







The Native Son 
Who Loses 
His Identity 

































































































PREFACE 


A love story and the idiosyncrasies of a Southern District. 





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Dedicated to my daughter, Mrs. R. E. B. Hall, who is a 
“Go-Getter’ ’ in life. 


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Vo 1 


CHAPTER I 

I was born in the Old Palmetto State and lived there until 
I was three years old, when my parents moved to the “succor” 
state that produced the martyred Lincoln; the orator Douglas; 
the two old War horse Generals—Logan and Grant, the latter 
who made that notable saying, we will accomplish the fete, if 
it takes all summer. But the statesman vein in this state has 
been pinched out ever since. 

Illinois is a way station on the westwtard course of empire, 
in fact, the last stop before you cross the Mississippi river. It 
has a population of about six million of people, about all of 
whom can say, fondly, “Grandfather came from some other 
part of the country.’' 

Illinois is a deep black state with a ten to fifteen foot soil, 
which can raise twenty foot corn stalks, and can put a pauper, 
farmer into the automobile class in three crops, if he is indus¬ 
trious. 

It is the third state in the Union in population, wealth and 
manufacturers. The first in agricultural products and rail¬ 
roads; second in coal, third in oil, the second in college students 
and the first in the production of beefsteaks and bacon. It 
reaches from the lower edge of the frozen North to the upper 
edge of the Sunny South. In fact spring begins in the South 
when they are cutting ice in the North. For this reason the 
people of the state vary greatly in temperament, customs, hab¬ 
its, politics. Hogs and corn make the farmers so wealthy in 
the North that they can afford a Pierce-Arrow car every year. 
The Southern part has a different soil. Instead of being black 
it is of the strawberry roan color. Here oil and coal have been 
icund in great quantities and the poor farmer instead of try¬ 
ing to fatten a little red pig can now order a $15 breakfast of 
Lacon in Paris each morning. Chicago attends to the task of 

1 


increasing the State’s population. There are no favorite or 
native sons in this state. They don’t have to be measured ac¬ 
cording to ther ancestors, they believe that a “man’s a man for 
ah that.” 

They all have to be shown here. The Mayflower does not 
cut much of a figure here. It is merit and merit alone that 
counts. 

Believe me, friend reader, the Universe pays a man with 
the coin of his own conscience. 

When a fellow, big or little, goes into the dark alleys of the 
poor and picks out some sad, hungry soul, and whispers a word 
of courage, loans a helping hand, you will find, if you look 
closely, that this man is always in excellent company, even 
when alone. 

True happiness corresponds with almost mathematical ac¬ 
curacy to our ability to help humans up the hill. 

Genuine happiness is a by-product of self-forgetful service 
to others. 

When your pulses quicken at the sight of sadness, when 
your blood courses faster in the presence of want, when your 
heart softens out of sympathy, you are a safe man to accom¬ 
pany. 

The zone of hospitality has moved westward with its cos¬ 
mopolitan inhabitants. Its home used to be located South of 
the Mason and Dixon line, but after slavery was abolished, it 
behooved the Southern resident to recoup his shattered for¬ 
tune. The war left nothing but desolation behind it. The 
large plantations had been devastated of all of their produc¬ 
tiveness and the men coming back from the war had nothing 
but their own efforts to rebuild their homes and to get their land 
in shape to raise cotton. 

They had no slaves to help them and no money to make 
any improvements. It is no wonder that their hospitality had 
suddenly slipped from them. 

It is almost impossible for a poor man to be hospitable. He 
is after the dollar to meet the necessities of life. Working 
along this line and giving the dollar of our dadies a hard chase, 
they naturally became imbued with the idea that obtaining 

2 


money and hoarding it is the chief aim in life. 

That is the reason, chiefly, that the noted Southern hospital¬ 
ity has almost entirely disappeared from the South. They are 
money mad, if you do not believe it, just make a trip South 
of the Mason and Dixon line and live for a year or so, and you 
*will find out, that such is the fact. 

The West is now the most hospitable part of these United 
States. 

My father and mother were prone to make comparisons 
between their home place in Illinois to their former home in 
South Carolina and it was always in disparagement to the 
Succor State. 

We had lived in our present home for about five years. 
Father had been blessed 0 with abundant crops of corn and made 
money off from his “Sorrell” pigs. 

His one hundred and sixty acres were paid for. He had 
built a fine 8-room house with a fine large barn to store his 
grain and to house his stock and he had considerable money in 
the bank. He was looked upon by his neighbors as a very in¬ 
dustrious and upright man. In fact, he had the confidence of 
the whole community. 

He and mother had a longing to go back to their old home 
on a visit. So after harvest, they left the family, consisting of 
four of us boys and four girls to keep house and take care of 
the farm while they were gone. I was the youngest of the 
bunch. 

They made the trip and on their return, father was inter¬ 
viewed by the editor of the local paper about his trip. 

He said, “South Carolina is a state of perpetual irritation, 
situated between Georgia and North Carolina, and somewhere 
between the Revolution and the Civil War. It is the fightinist 
State in the Union, and is the unsafest spot between the At¬ 
lantic and the Pacific in which to discuss the Emancipation 
Proclamation or to edit a paper with a trenchant pen. 

It contains about 30,000 square miles, is shaped like a five- 
cent cut of pie and has nearly 2,000,000 people, including ne¬ 
groes, of which there are about one half of the number, also 
some few Chinese and a darn few Republicans and they are 

3 


only Republican, so as to get the Federal appointments during 
a Republican administration. 

Although the population is about 50-50 white and black, 
still one white man when he gets mad can make a hundred ne 
groes go-a-way back and sit down or else seek a change of cli¬ 
mate without waiting for the first train. 

South Carolina has always been noted for its nervous dis¬ 
position and its willingness to rise up and smite the Universe 
on all occasions. 

This State made it hot for the British during the Revolution, 
but General Marion soon made them look like a Republican in 
Wilson’s administration. She helped to win the Revolution, 
but during Jackson’s administration, she got peeved and 
threatened to take her doll rags and go home. In 1861, she 
was the first to commence hostilities. My idea about the Civil 
War is 'that South Carolina and Massachusetts ought to have 
been allowed to fight out the Civil War and let all the other 
states been the on-lookers. 

South Carolina had two severe shakes, one was the earth¬ 
quake that partially destroyed Charleston and the other Sena¬ 
tor Ben Tillman. 

Cotton, rice and sweet potatoes are the chief products. It 
also supplies large quantities of turpentine and resin. It be¬ 
gins where the Atlantic Ocean stops on the east, about seven 
feet below high water, and for many miles inland it is so moist 
that the planters keep life savers handy on their plows. It 
has numerous fine old towns, but the population peters out in 
the western mountains, where the people eat clay instead of 
ice cream and lobster and empty the hook worms out of their 
Sunday shoes by pounding the soles with a club. There are 
three religions, Protestant, Catholic and Democratic. Between 
the Savannah and the Pee Dee Rivers, John C. Calhoun is still 
the greatest man man in the world and history closes in 1865. 

It is last in the list of states in the point of education and 
cotton mills are spreading out all over the state like a heavy 
rash. 

Charleston is the largest city and it is a beautiful petrified 
one at that. 


4 


One of the greatest drawbacks to the state is, that they 
cling to that old theory of Native Son. No one has any busi¬ 
ness in the state, if he is not a native son and if he is, he must 
believe in Andrew Jackson.” 

“I suppose that you came back home, here, well satisfied 
that our state is not the worst place to live in, in the world?” 
said the editor. 

“Well, old Illinois is good enough for me. I will take the 
snow storms and the cyclones in preference to the boll weevil 
and the selfish native son theory that permeates the old Pal¬ 
metto State,” replied the father. 





CHAPTER II 

By the way, I will tell you our family name. It is Butler. 
We are no kin of Gen. Ben Butler, who stole the spoons down 
in Louisiana nor Senator Marion Butler, who can make the 
Democrats get under cover down in North Carolina the quick¬ 
est of any Republican that has ever lived in the state. They 
do not love him, the least bit and they say very sarcastic things 
about him when he is not around. My name is Frank Butler. 

The people of Illinois are very progressive. They believe 
in education and don’t publish it from the house tops like some 
of our Southern brethren. They want the education that will 
be worth while to the youths of the land, so they can use it in 
after life. The farmer boys of the “succor” state are the best 
educated in the land. About every one of the boys attend col¬ 
lege and get their sheepskins. But they have different ideas 
of education than a great many other people. They send their 
children to the public schools and get what education they can 
there and then the boy and girl is sent to a college to be in¬ 
structed in the particular line of work they are fitted for. If 
a boy is suited to the professions and his mental capacity is 
fitted to take on a classical course he is sent to a college of that 
kind. If his ideas trend to engineering, to chemistry or farm¬ 
ing or to whatever line he is adapted for, he is sent to the 
school where they make a specialty of that particular calling. 

They also believe in athletics but not in detriment to their 
regular studies. 

They believe that a man should be robust in health, have a 
good sound body in order to go up against the trials and tribu¬ 
lations that they are sure to meet in this life of uncertainties. 

Our whole family were educated at the graded schools and 
also at different colleges and seminaries. 

6 


My inclinations were along the line of chemicals, for that 
reason I was sent to the Illinois State University and took a four 
years’ course in chemistry. When I graduated, I secured a 
position with the Dupont people at Hopewell, Va. Shortly 
after I went to Hopewell, war was declared against Germany 
by the United States. I was all enthusiasm and wanted to en¬ 
list but the government would not take me as they considered 
that I could do far more good for my country by working for 
the powder company. 

During the summer, it was the habit of some of us em¬ 
ployees to run down to Wrightsville Beach and spend a week 
at a time. Mrs. DuPont had taken a cottage there and of 
course, we were often invited up there to parties, etc. 

The first summer that I was down there, there were a bevy 
of Vassar Seminary girls there, camping out. They were fre¬ 
quent visitors at the DuPont cottage, and as it happened, I met 
them there and was introduced to them. Most of them were 
from the North, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. But 
there were two from South Carolina. One from Charleston 
and the other, Miss Belle Sanford, was from Sumpter, S. C. 

That was the town in which I was born and naturally I was 
drawn more especially towards her than any of the rest. Belle 
was not only a beautiful young lady but she was very intelli¬ 
gent. She was one that would be picked out of a crowd of 
young ladies for her intelligent looks as well as for her beauty. 
Her easy and graceful manners and dignified bearing were as¬ 
sets to her other accomplishments. But for all of that she was 
“chuck full” of the spice of the devil. She had a sort of Cas- 
tiliian look about her. She had jet black hair and eyes, while 
her skin was almost transparent white with red cheeks. She 
was above the height of the ordinary women and well devel¬ 
oped. She was quipk on foot and had a very winning smile. 
She was an adept in repartee, was well up on authors and had 
a good knowledge of history and current events. She always 
had a pleasant word for everybody, but was no hypocrite. She 
despised can’t of all kinds and what she abhorred the most of 
anything was the old worn cut theme of Native Son. She be¬ 
lieved that if a person was good, virtuous, patriotic and self- 


7 


supporting, whether rich or poor, he was to be taken at his 
full value. 

In the town of Sumpter, there are some very wealthy as 
well as aristocratic families and the society there is way up in 
G, but they all pride themselves upon their ancestors, undoubt¬ 
edly forgetting that we all are descendants of Adam and Eve. 
When Belle heard anyone discoursing upon their ancestry or 
Native Son subjects, she became tired and disgusted. 

Upon one occasion, when the discussion became quite ani¬ 
mated upon these subjects, she broke into the discussion and 
remarked; that it put her in mind of a story. A figurative 
John Bull remarked to his sons: “Why, ours is an old family. 
One of our ancestors was knighted by Henry VII for stealing 
cattle from the Scotch, some time in the fifteenth century. I 
am tracing up the lineage, and I believe we are all Baro.ns. I 
expect to get the title confirmed, and then each of you boys 
must sell himself to a beautiful, wealthy American girl for 
from 75,000 to 250,000 pounds. Under the rose, it will help 
the stock greatly, for your mother was a barmaid. Things are 
working alright, my lads. Our conquest of the United States 
still goes on.” 

There was a silence that was oppressive when she had fin¬ 
ished. “Then you don’t believe in the Native Son and Noted 
Lineage?” remarked an elderly lady. 

“Decidely, No. Why, look at our families of the wealthy 
here in our own little city, where they have married and inter¬ 
married in order to keep the wealth in the families. Why, 
their descendants are degenerating all the time. I dare any 
of you, to show me a young man from the wealthy families, 
who can be compared to his father or grandfather in ability or 
intelligence. And if things continue this way, we will have a 
very sorry lot of wealthy people here in the next fifty years, 
if the money has not all been squandered by the non-go-getters 
—the descendants of the rich. I think that a young lady or 
gent, whether rich or poor should select his or her own life 
partner without any family entanglements or pressure. For 
my part, I shall be guided along the lines I have mentioned, if 

8 


1 am ever so fortunate as to be selected by any clean cut young 
man.” 

“You always had very peculiar ideas,” remarked an old 
lady, who had a son, that she wished might be a favorite of 

Belle. 

“I suppose you would even marry one of those “blue-bel¬ 
lied” Yanks, if he was respectable, which I think would be 
next to impossible to find, if you loved him?” 

“They are not as hard to find as you might suppose, but, I 
certainly would, if he was a respectable and refined gentle¬ 
man,” answered Belle. 

“Will wonders never cease? You a daughter of one of the 
produest families in the Old Palmetto State and give utterance 
to such sentiments,” remarked another lady of the Cod Fish 
Aristocracy, with a defiant toss of her head. 

“That all comes from your attending that Yankee Semi¬ 
nary,” exclaimed another lady. 

“Well, No, yet partially so. I always believed in the theory 
but after attending school up North for four years, I had my 
theory thoroughly demonstrated to my entire satisfaction. But 
I am not saying the Southern boys are not gentlemen, but it 
would be to their advantage to get wives from away from home, 
even if they have to marry one of your hated Yanks. 

They are nice people up North, just as nice as can be found 
anywhere on the face of the globe, but money and lineage or 
Native Son does not cut the figure up there that it does in South 
Carolina.” 

“Well, have it your own way. Let’s go on with the dance,” 
spoke up one of the young men, and thus the argument was 
dropped. 

Frank Butler and Belle Sanford became almost boon com¬ 
panions at the beach. They were to be found together, daily, 
playing tennis, boat riding, bathing or horseback riding. Gen¬ 
erally, where you found the one you would find the other. 

Frank’ vacation passed too quickly for both of them. They 
were congenial in tastes and appeared that nature intended 
each for the other. 


9 


However, the time came, when Frank was to leave for his 
daily work. 

“Well, old scout, will I see or hear any more from you, or 
is this just a common occurrence with you,” said Belle. 

“How can you ask such a question, when you know posi¬ 
tively that I have enjoyed myself with you, as I never have 
with any young lady in my life. I do not flirt, that is something 
I am not guilty of, and I hope, in fact, I know that you believe, 
down deep in your own heart that I have the greatest regard 
and respect for you, and I think my feelings are reciprocated 
by you,” said Frank. 

“Well, let it go at that. Are you going to write to me?” 
asked Belle. 

“Surely, if you desire it, and I was on the point of asking 
you if I might,” replied Frank. 

“Certainly, I will be pleased to correspond with you and 
then I can see if you are as entertaining and amusing as a writer 
as a talker,” remarked Belle. 

She went to the train and saw him off. 

After his departure Wrightsville seemed to have lost all 
its attraction for her, and her companions were won’t to jolly 
her about being hard hit by Cupid’s dart. When she told them 
she had a high regard for Frank.but there was nothing serious 
between them. But notwithstanding her spirits commenced 
to droop, she did not have the accustomed pep as formerly, be¬ 
fore the advent of Frank. She actually was nauseated with 
the attractions the beach offered. Finally, she told the girls 
she was going home as she did not feel the ’east bit well. The 
girls took the hint as they well knew what the matter was 
with her. Two of the young ladies accompanied her as she 
insisted upon their so doing. After a few days at home, she 
appeared to regain her usual lively dispositions. The young 
ladies soon found out what caused her spirits to be revived. 
She had received a.very long and interesting letter from Frank 
It had been delayed as it was forwarded frcm the beach. She 
hastened to answer it, and in it, she gave him an urgent invi.a- 
tion to visit her, in the near future. 

Letters were exchanged daily for about a month, when 

10 


Belle received a letter from him, stating that he would be down 
the following Saturday and would stay over Sunday. 

It is needless to say that Belle was down to the train with her 
car, to meet him. It was a joyful meeting for both, and their 
eyes spoke a language that neither dare to speak. When they 
got into the car, Frank told her to take him to the best hotel. 

“No, you are not going to a hotel, you are my guest and you 
are going to stay at my home, while you are here,” replied 
Belle. 

“What will your parents think or what will the people 
say?” exclaimed Frank. 

“My parents are perfectly willing and indeed quite anxious 
to have you as our guest, and I care not what the old gossips 
have to says as they can’t injure me. When people are true, 
consciencious and truthful, they can look the whole world in 
the face aand tell them to go to,” replied Belle. 

Frank could not resist crowding up closer to her after this 
speech. Arriving at her home, she introduced Frank to her 
father and mother in the following words: “Father and moth¬ 
er, look on one of God’s noblemen. I know him to be that. 
He is a good intelligent, manly man, who is not ashamed to let 
people know that he works. He was born here in this town, 
but he was raised in the North and there learned that work is 
not disgraceful. He is college bred and his parents are wealthy 
as any who live in our city. But when they left South Caro¬ 
lina, they had barely enough to ge to their present home and 
that is only about a period of twenty years. 

They did this by industrious habits and by frugality. They 
have laid by an abundance of this world’s goods and a family 
of eight children, four boys and four girls have a college edu¬ 
cation. 

I repeat, he is a manly man, worthy to associate with the 
best people on earth. “There is nothing serious between us,” 
and as she said this there was a slight tremor in her voice. 
“But we are the best of friends, and tonight, at the informal 
party, I want him to meet all of our guests. 

What I have said may be embarrassing to Mr. Butler, but 
I tell you these things so that you can spike all the cod fish 

11 


aristocracy from saying anything that might be out of place.” 

Imagine, reader, how Frank must have felt as Belle made 
this little spiel to her parents. 

“Daughter, we have never known of your being deceived 
in your estimate of people. You have ,a “canny” gift along 
that line. We cordially and sincerely extend our best wishes 
as well as our hospitality to your friend, here, Mr. Frank But¬ 
ler,” at the same time the father extending his hand and giving 
him a hearty hand shake. Mrs. Sanford did the same. 

“Perhaps it would be a good idea to call the servant and 
have Mr. Butler’s baggage taken to his room and at the same 
time escort him to it.” 

“Have the servant hring up the baggage and I will show 
him his room,” said Belle. Suiting the action to the word she 
told Frank to accompany her. As they started up the stair¬ 
way, Frank took hold of her arm to assist her as he did so, 
she gave his arm a press and crowded it up against hers. He 
whispered to her/ “Do you mean that?” 

She answered “yes.” 

When they got to the room, she pushed it open and told 
him when he had performed his toilet to come down into the 
reception room and they would go into dinner. 

“Just to think of it. She loves me as very'few women ever 
loved, and I love her with a love that can’t be measured, which 
I never knew before that I was capable of,” thought Frank as 
he prepared for dinner. 


12 


CHAPTER III 

At the dinner table Mr. Sanford engaged Frank in con¬ 
versation on current events, scientific subjects and politics. He 
found him well versed upon all the different themes and he 
backed up his theories with good solid arguments. Some of 
which were antagonistic to the views of Mr. Sanford but he 
could not help admiring the young man for his erudition. 

He also found that he was not egotistical, but appeared to 
believe as he argued. 

Frank knew that he was treading on almost forbidden 
ground when he argued on politics, but he believed in being 
honest, no matter what the consequences. After dinner they 
repaired to the old shady porch, when Mr. Sanford passed 
him a box of cigars. “Thanks, I do not use tobacco in any 
shape.” 

“You don’t even smoke cigarettes? That is strange for a 
young man in these times,” remarked Mr. Sanford. 

“I tried to smoke once, and I gave it up in disgust and 
never tried it again, as it made me deathly sick,, replied Frank. 

“You are better off by abstaining from the tobacco habit. 
It is a filthy one and obnoxious to a great many, but with me 
I commenced when I was young and the habit grew on me and 
at my age I find it a great solace and I have my serious doubts 
whether I could quit it now,” replied Sanford. 

While thus engaged, Belle made her appearance and asked 
her father if he would excuse Frank for a while as she desired 
him to accompany her in the car, down town, as she had some 
errands to do and she wished to show him the town. 

He replied “certainly.” 

On the way down town, Belle informed Frank that there 
was to be an informal reception at her home that evening. You 
will meet about all the aristocracy of our little city, both young 
and old. Be prepared for all kinds of quizzing, be natural 

13 


and answer their questions in your accustomed natural style 
and never mind the results. If it hurts them, they will have 
to stand it. You are Southern born but Northern raised and 
your ideas are broad as compared with theirs. 

Frank was the observed of all. He appeared to be the 
whole show. Whisperings were caught flying about that she 
was engaged to Frank, as they were observed in the car. 

The informal reception was on. The cream of Sumpter's 
aristocratic society was present ‘en masse' and Frank ran the 
gauntlet of being introduced down the line, where fashionable 
ladies dressed with decollette dresses and stylish men all dolled 
up in full dressed suits. 

As he passed along down the line, whispering remarks were 
made, such as, “He is good looking, if he is a Yank;" “He 
knows how to wear his clothes, and dresses in good taste, if he 
is from the North;” “He looks intelligent;" “He has graceful 
manners;" “Wonder, if he is a good conversationalist?" “Do 
you suppose he and Belle are engaged?" etc. 

There was a soda water jerker present, by the name of Sol 
Haines, who was employed at the most popular drug store in 
the city, where they made a specialty of soda water, soft drinks 
of all kinds and ice cream. It was the popular place for the 
young people to meet for refreshments of this kind. It was 
also a great hangout for the wealthy men in town, who had 
nothing to do but put in their time. It was also a great place 
for gossip. 

Haines had been here for something over a year and he 
had ingratiated himself into the favor both of the ladies and 
gents, to such an extent, that he was invited to all the social 
gatherings of Sumpter’s Four Hundred. 

Sol Haines was one of those frisky, flip, fawning, flossie, 
four-flusher sycophants that can be found in most any com¬ 
munity. He was a Georgia “cracker." He had been in South 
Carolina several years and he thought that the state would go 
into premature decay, if he were to leave it. 

As we have mentioned this drug store was the mecca for 
the fashionable society and the wealthy and prominent men 
cf the town as they got their daily papers here. Sol Haines 

14 


had brains enough to agree with them and being so well known 
and a good dresser, quite a glib talker but only superficial, he 
wormed himself into being invited out to afternoon teas, etc. 

On account of his advent into society, his cranium com¬ 
menced to enlarge, and the thought permeated his addled brain 
that he could have his choice of the wealthy, marriageable 
young ladies of the city. 

He had tried his best to get in with Belle, but she was too 
clever to offend him, but by shrewd manipulation he had never 
been able to call on her or to accompany her to any of the so¬ 
ciety doings. She was able to read his shallowness and she 
knew that he was a sort of a polished non-entiety. 

Of course, he was at this reception. He told some of the 
swell young men “that he would show up this blooming Yank, 
who had come down South to steal one of their most beautiful 
and accomplished young ladies. Now watch me.” 

Some of his friends suggested that possibly he had better 
be a little careful as they believed Frank Butler would more 
than be a match for him. However, he would not listen to 
their kindly advice. 

“Not on your life, I will make him expose his ignorance, and 
1 think he is too cowardly to resent any insult.” 

‘Well, it is up to you, if you think you are heavy enough 
calibre, go to it,” remarked a young man, who did not take 
very much stock in him. 

One of the yoiung men, who had heard Sol Haines make 
his boast of what he was going to do to Frank, was a special 
friend of Belle. He hunted her up and told her about it. 

“He said those things, did he? Well, I can say, he will be 
afforded an opportunity to make good his boasts. I will ar¬ 
range the ‘setting/ I will see Frank and give him a tip, and 
you get Sol and some of the young men out on the veranda to 
smoke, and Frank and I will saunter out near them. I will 
frame up an excuse to leave Frank for a few minutes, this will 
give Sol a chance to make good his bluff,” said Belle. 

“Alright, my clever little schemer, you are ‘Johnny on the 
spot’ at all times,” remarked her friend. 

Belle hunted up Frank and told him what Sol Haines had 

15 


said, he was going to do. Now, I have fixed it with one of the 
young men to get Sol and some of the other young men to go 
out on the veranda to smoke, you and I will casually walk out 
onto the veranda, near them, and shortly afterwards, I will ex¬ 
cuse myself to you for a short time and we will see if he has 
the nerve to insult you. Be careful and answer any of his in¬ 
sinuating remarks as sarcastically as you can, and if he insults 
you, knock the dirty cur down. It is time that Sumpter society 
people know what a despicable cur they are really entertain¬ 
ing and harboring, said Belle. 

"Just as you say, my little spite-fire,” said Frank. 

Belle left Frank and went in search of her father and un¬ 
folded to him the whole dirty scheme of Haines. "Now, father 
I want you to get in a good place where you can hear all that 
is said and see all that happens, but upon no account, interfere 
in the least. You can come out upon the scene after the seance 
is over.” 

"Do you think that is the proper thing to do?” asked her 
father. 

"I certainly do, as Sol Haines has it in his system and the 
sooner he is relieved of the high tension, the better it will be 
for all concerned,” replied Belle. 

"How about Frank,” said Mr. Sanford. 

"Never mind Frank, he will give a good account of himself, 
have no fears on that score. If Sol Haines ever attempts to 
make a pass at Frank, he will think a full blown cyclone has 
struck him,” replied Belle. 

The program was carried out in detail. 

Some few minutes had elapsed after Belle had departed 
and Frank was standing, leaning up against the railing on the 
veranda, when Sol Haines slowly oozed over to him, followed 
by the other young men, who wanted Haines to get what was 
coming to him, as they surely expected him to get more than 
he bargained for, and another thing, down in their hearts they 
all despised him. Stepping up to Frank, he thus accosted him: 
"Well, Yank, how do you like the house par^y? or perhaps you 
are so ignorant that you do not know what a house party is?” 

"My ‘Cracker’ friend, we have barn parties in our ‘neck of 

16 




the woods' after each harvest. Our floors in our big bank 
barns are large and they are made of hard wood matched 
flooring and highly polished, but for all that we wax them be¬ 
fore a party takes place. A series of barn parties are given 
by the larger farmers. We have a city orchestra and the 
‘elite’ society of the whole community attend. For refresh¬ 
ments, we have a barrel of sweet cider and several bushels of 
the finest eating apples. Each one draws his own cider from 
the barrel for himself and lady partner. We have no ‘cider 
jerker’ as you people here in the South have ‘soda water 
jerkers.’ We dance till broad day light and go home in the 
morning," answered Frank. While Frank was peorating, 
audible snickers might have been heard, coming from the 
young men, and Sol could not have helped hearing them and 
undoubtedly it made him madder than he otherwise would 
have been. The idea of being laughed at by his own country¬ 
men on account of remarks made by an uncouth Yank. 

“Do you mean to insult me," queered Sol, brustling up. 

“Why, no," remarked Frank. 

“Well, you did and you need not try to crawfish, you mis¬ 
erable, low down Yankee cur." As he said cur, a resounding 
smack was heard upon the stillness of the Southern night. 
And where was Sol Haines, the soda water jerker? Ask of 
the gentle zephyrs that floated out among the trees. 

He was laying prone upon the floor of the stoop with blood 
oozing out of his nostrils and mouth, and he was unable to 
get up. He was heard saying “where was I when the tornado 
struck?" 

He was assisted to his feet by some of the young men af¬ 
ter he came to a little. At this juncture Mr. Sanford and 
Belle made their appearance. Mr. Sanford told the boys to 
gather up the fragments of one Sol Haines and load him into 
an auto and take him to his boarding place. 

“Now Sol Haines, you will please never venture to put your 
foot into my home again. You are too low down for decent 
people to have anything to do with, and gentlemen, you can 
do as you see fit, keep this little episode to yourselves or broad¬ 
cast it, suit yourselves. I was apprized of this affair. IIow 

17 


that Haines had made his boasts what he was going to do, 
and, farther, I heard every word that passed and I saw the 
whole proceedings. 

I have nothing but words of praise for Butler. He acted 
the part of a true chivalrous gentleman and I should have con¬ 
sidered him to have been an arrogant coward had he not done 
as he did. 

He has done one of the best acts for the society of this 
city by knocking down this low down, sneaking, cowardly 
piece of humanity—Sol Haines. I am through, take away the 
human carrion.” 

This all happened without any one but those that saw it, 
knowing anything about it. 


18 


CHAPTER IV 

Fortunate is the community that has good magistrates, who 
have sense enough to decide cases according to law and the 
evidence. In some of the communities in the Palmetto State 
they have some men, who are magistrates who decide the cases 
before they go into court. They decide for the side that will 
be of the most advantage to them personally. 

A case that happened in the community where Belle lived 
came under the personal presence and view of Frank Butler 
and Belle Sanford. This case illustrates the idea that we have 
just advanced. 

On Sunday following what took place at Belle’s home at 
the reception, Belle and Frank took an outing in Belle’s car. 

Some of the roads around there were quite narrow and 
with steep hills and narrow bridges. The roads wound around 
the hills and sometimes it was a very difficult matter for two 
cars to pass, in fact they could not on some of the narrow 
bridges. In that case one car would have to wait on the op¬ 
posite side until the other car passed. 

As they came around the bend and approached a narrow 
bridge at the foot of a winding hill, they perceived a car on 
the opposite side of the bridge and the driver gave the signal 
for them to come on as he had parked his car on the right side 
of the raod to await their coming. 

Just as Frank and Belle had crossed the bridge and came 
along side of the other car, which was occupied by a young 
man and his wife, a big Hudson car, with six negroes in it, 
and a young 16 year old negro boy was driving the car, came 
thundering down the steep incline at a speed from 25 to 35 
miles per hour. This car struck the small coupe in the rear, 
throwing it across the road and hitting the car in which Belle 
and Frank were in, doing some damage to their car. The 

19 


coupe was almost demolished and had it not been for its hit¬ 
ting a tree it would have gone clear down over the embank¬ 
ment and undoubtedly the occupants of it would have been 
killed. As it was, the lady had one of her limbs scraped and 
one of her eyes blackened. One of the negroes got out of the 
Hudson and ran off through the woods with a jug of whisky. 

At the trial the negroes testified that they w T ere not going 
over twenty-five miles per hour, while six white people testi¬ 
fied they were going at the rate of thirty-five miles per hour. 
It is against the law to run over ten miles per hour when one 
auto passes another. 

A policeman and a deputy sheriff and a garage man said 
the Hudson had no brakes, which is against the State law. It 
cost the young man $200 to get his car repaired and after 
hearing all the evidence, the justice looked wise and dismissed 
the case. Some one mentioned the fact that the wife of the 
magistrate and that of the land owner, for whom the negroes 
worked were relataives. 

“If that is the way you decide cases down here, I have not 
much respect for your magistrates nor for the voters for put¬ 
ting into office such numbskulls or rascals as magistrates,” re¬ 
marked Frank, to Mr. Sanford after the trial. 

“That is a pretty fair sample of what we have to endure, 
when we are so unfortunate as to have a case before them,” 
replied Mr. Sanford. 

If the hypocrites who live in the ambush of good society 
would only die bachelors, the world would be better for it. If 
the felt shoe pad would only convert his courage into a legiti¬ 
mate calling, valuables and virtue would be safe. 

But of all the words that have ever blotted paper, none can 
describe that degraded black devil of despair, the ingrate— 
he whose thankfulness has apoplexy, whose sense of apprecia¬ 
tion is paralyzed, whose conscience is crippled. The implac¬ 
able ingrate harrows up your soul. His natural home is with 
the slippery, slimy inhabitants of the barnyard bogs. The 
mere mention of the wo^d ingrate leaves the tongue fetid. 

For some reason unknown to him, Sol Haines name was left 
off the social list of Sumpter’s social list. And at all high society 

20 


functions he was conspicuous by his absence. It was noticed 
by a great number of the younger set and they wondered at 
it. He was not as popular at the drug store as formerly and 
the falling off of trade was somewhat noticeable. 

Sol himself, tumbled to the fact a long time ere the young 
men commenced to inquire of him, “Why he was not at Mrs. 
DeVere’s reception and at the ball given for the out-coming of 
Miss DuBerry?” 

He gave an evasive answer to all these queeries, but at the 
same time it was getting on his nerves. He was in a deep 
quandry, why he had not been invited to these different so¬ 
ciety functions. He also noticed that the treatment accorded 
him by the customers, especiaaly the society people, was not 
as cordial as formerly, in fact it was almost frigid. 

The story about his run-in with Frank Butler was not known 
as far as he knew, and therefore, he could not fathom the 
mystery. 

He meditated over the matter so much that he became mo¬ 
rose, and it had worked him into a frame of mind that it was 
almost impossible for him to treat the customers with the 
proper courtesy. The proprietor of the pharmacy began to 
take notice of the fact and he took Sol to task about it. In a 
pleasant way he asked him, “What was the matter with him?” 

“Perhaps you do not want me any longer, and because 
your trade is falling off, you want to make me the scape-goat,” 
said Sol. 

“If you feel that way about it, just step into my private of¬ 
fice and get your time,” replied the employer. 

This was the straw that broke the camel’s back. 

Sol now laid all his troubles on Frank Butler. He surely 
was the cause of his ostracism. He determined to get even 
with him. 

He secured a position with a competing drug store and 
soft drink emporium, and in this position he was able to work 
out his scheme of revenge upon his supposed nemesis—Frank 
Butler. 

There were a number of drug fiends in the town and Sol 
had been the medium through which they had been supplied 

21 


with the narcotics. They, of course, followed him to the new 
place. They were almost compelled to do his bidding. There 
was a doctor, who was an addict and he was so far steeped in 
drugs that he would do most anything in order to get his drug. 
He formerly had been one of the most prominent physicians 
in the city, but unfortunately for himself and the community 
he had become a slave to narcotics. He practically had no 
practice except with the tough element as he could not be 
trusted as he never was free of drugs. 

There was another poor misguided man, who had seen bet¬ 
ter days. He was a well read aattorney and in years gone by 
had enjoyed a lucrative practice. The drug habit had gotten 
the mastery over him to such an extent that he was in its 
clutches. 

These two men depended upon Sol to furnish them drugs. 

After the trial of the auto speeders, Frank Butler went 
back to Hopewill. He and Belle kept up a lively correspon¬ 
dence and he was invited to spend the Christmas holidays at 
Belle’s home, as she intended to give a big house party. 


22 


CHAPTER V. 

To surround anything, however monstrous or ridiculous, 
with an air of mystery, is to invest it with a secret charm, and 
power of attraction which to the crowd is irristible. 

False priests, false prophets, false doctors, false patriots, 
false prodigies of every kind, veiling their proceedings in mys¬ 
tery, have always addressed themselves at an immense advan¬ 
tage to the popular credulity, and have been, perhaps, more 
indebted to that resource in gaining and keeping for a time 
the upper hand of truth and common sense, than to any half 
dozen items in the whole catalogue of imposture. 

Curiosity is, and has been from the creation of the world, 
a master passion. To awaken it, to gratify it by slight degrees, 
and yet leave something always in suspense, is to establish the 
surest hold that can be had, in wrong, on the unthinking por¬ 
tion of mankind. 

The town of Sumpter had long been the headquarters for 
a gang of blockaders and bootleggers and although it was pat¬ 
ent to almost everybody that such was the case, they were un¬ 
able to get any evidence that would convict anyone. A great 
many were suspected as they had no visible means of support 
but still they apparently were always well-heeled with the coin 
of the realm. 

It became so nauseating to the general public that they 
were discussing ways to stop the nefarious business. 

All of a sudden there were a score or more arrests made. 
Whisky had been purchased of them by a dapper little strang 
er, who had been stopping at one of the leading hotels of the 
town for several months. He was ostensibly engaged in pros¬ 
pecting for oil and he had been hiring the different taxi-drivers 
who had been suspected of handling whisky, to drive him about 
the country to get options on different tracks of land. Inci¬ 
dentally as he became better acquainted with the taxi drivers, 

23 


he inquired of them if it were possible to get some whisky as 
he was about dead for a dram. As he had been very liberal 
with them and “a hale fellow well met,” they had no hesitancy 
in getting it for him. 

At first, they would have him meet them at certain places 
and they would give it to him, but as time wore on they be¬ 
came better acquainted, they did not hesitate to take him to 
the stills, themselves. He always sampled the stuff and made 
a note of whom he bought, how much he paid and gave a de¬ 
scription of the place where he bought it. This memo was 
placed upon each container after he got in at the hotel and 
placed upon the container. After doing this he placed it in 
the safe of one of the prominent citizens, where it was not dis¬ 
turbed until the day of the trial. When he got them well 
rounded up, he went before the proper official and swore out 
the warrants and they were speedily arrested. 

It turned out that he had been employed by the K. K. K’s. 
Every one was convicted and given road sentences with a good 
stiff fine. 

A great many “Goody Goods” shook hands with themselves 
and congratulated themselves upon the good work they had 
done in cleaning up the town of its bootleggers, when as a mat¬ 
ter of fact, they never donated a cent in money or a moment's 
time. Possibly, had they known what was being done, they 
would have given the whole scheme away. 

However, it gradually leaked out that the K. K. K.’s were 
the men behind the gun. This knowledge created quite a com¬ 
motion both among the bootleggers and the machine politic¬ 
ians. The former made all kinds of threats, on the quiet, as 
they had a good wholesome fear of the Klan. The later were 
afraid that the Klan might have something to say politically 
to their detriment, therefore, something had to be done to put 
the “Kibosh” on the Klan. 

There happened to be a Klansman on the grand jury and 
he was the object of their attack. So affidavits were prepar¬ 
ed against several on the grand jury, but the others, were 
blinds, in order to catch the Klansman. 

Because he made answer in a certain way to a question, 

24 


they had him indicted by the grand jury for perjury. The 
case was continued from court to court and at last accounts, 
it still was there. The whole affair was not a prosecution but 
a persecution. 

The great object was to stop the growth of the Klam 
which the machine was afraid of. The Klan was onto them 
and they simply ceased to function. But for all of that, it was 
given out that the bootleggers had a list of all the Klan mem¬ 
bers. 

Some of the members became weak-kneed and dropped out 
by non-payment of dues, but the real substantial ones were as 
much on the job as though they met regularly. 

It was amusing, however, to see the actions of some of the 
would-be law and order people. They appeared to want the 
bootleggers to win their case against the Klansman. 

It was brought out in the trials of the bootleggers that one 
of the largest stills ever unearthed in the county was discov¬ 
ered on a prominent planter’s plantation. The still was lo¬ 
cated in an underground room, the only mode of access being 
through a well. This well was located near a tenant’s home. 
Twenty feet from the top of the well a tunnel was found lead¬ 
ing from the well. The officers followed this and came to a 
loom in which was stored 150 gallons of corn whisky, already 
for shipment, a large quantity of corn mash and a complete 
still. 

From the underground room a hollow sycamore tree furn¬ 
ished means for ventilating the distillery. 

From this still most of the whisky, that found sale in the 
town, was furnished. 

The detective never was able definitely to find the man, 
who was the wholesale distributor, but he suspected Sol 
Haines, but he was unable to fasten the guilt upon him. 

After the Goody Goods had shown their hand as against 
the Klan, the latter laid down completely and it was only a 
short time until the bootleggers were doing a larger business 
at the same old stand. 

The Klan members, although not active, stood as a stone 

25 


wall against all pressure that was being brought against any 
individual member. 

Some of the members, who were public officials, ostensibly 
withdrew from the order but at heart, they were Klansmen 
and would not stand for any funny business. 

As we have mentioned the whisky men became more bold 
and thought they could pull off most any kind of a stunt. Sol 
Haines among them. 

He learned that Frank Butler was to be a guest at the 
Christmas house party during the holidays, and he decided 
upon drastic measures to take his revenge upon him. He com¬ 
pelled his two lackeys—the doctor and lawyer, who were drug 
fiends and depended upon him for their dope, to aid him in 
carrying out his nefarious plot, and he perfected all his ar¬ 
rangements so as to be ready when Frank came. 

The degenerate lawyer became alarmed as the time drew 
near for Frank’s appearance and he had a remorse of con¬ 
science, so he went to the chief of police, who was a Klans- 
man, and unfolded the whole plot. 

The chief told him to carry out his part of the plot, but 
tell no one what he had done. You do this and you will not 
be prosecuted, but if you fail me, I will send you to the pen as 
I have a witness to what you have communicated to me. As 
he said this, he said, “Jim” and from behind a screen his pri¬ 
vate secretary came out with a paper with everything the 
lawyer had said, down in shorthand. 

“Now when he gets ready to spring his scheme, let me 
know at once.” 

“I surely will,” said the lawyer. 

Saying this he left the room. 


26 


CHAPTER VI. 

In the Eastern story, the heavy slab that was to fall on the 
bed of state in the flush of conquest was slowly wrought out of 
the quarry, the tunnel for the rope to hold it in place was slow¬ 
ly carried through the leagues of rock, the slab was slowly 
raised and fitted into the roof, the rope was rove to it and slow¬ 
ly taken through the miles of hollow to the great iron ring. 
All being ready with much labor, and the hour come, the sul¬ 
tan aroused in the dead of night, and the sharpened ax that 
was to sever the rope from the great iron ring was put into his 
hand, and he struck with it, and the rope parted and rushed 
away, and the ceiling fell. So, in the case of Sol Haines. All 
the work, near and far, that tended to the end, had been ac¬ 
complished ; and in aan instant the blow was struck, and the 
roof of his stronghold dropped upon him. 

Sol had conceived a very brilliant idea, as he supposed, 
and he was going'to take advantage of the situation. He 
imagined that about all the better class of people w T ere op¬ 
posed to the Ku Klux Klan. His scheme was to impersonate 
them and commit a crime and have it laid at their door. This 
was the plot the drug addict of a lawyer unfolded to the chief 
of police. 

Sol proposed to dress in white robes with white helmets 
similar to those worn by Klansmen. His first step was to com¬ 
pel the two drug fiends, whim he was supplying with nar¬ 
cotics to assist him in his inhuman scheme. 

He had rented a cottage about a mile from town, where he 
had made all the necessary preparations to carry out his dia¬ 
bolic deed. A criminal operation was to be performed upon 
Frank Butler. He was to be kidnapped and carried out here 
where the deed was to be performed and it was to be done by 
the addict of a doctor. 


27 


To see with what cunning he had planned the whole af¬ 
fair, it is only necessary to state that he had bolted down four 
staples in the floor, with chains attached and handcuffs at the 
end of each chain. The victim was to have his hands hand¬ 
cuffed and his feet manacled and the fiend of a doctor was to 
do the rest. 

On the night of the kidnapping, the doctor was stationed 
at the cottage with all his surgical instruments. 

Even, in case the victim died in the operation a coffin had 
been .obtained to house the body. 

Sol Haines, assisted by the lawyer addict and two thugs 
arrayed themselves in white robes, resembling those of the 
Klan and started on their way to the home of Mr. Sanford. 

It was a dark and dreary night; people nestling in their 
beds or circling late about the fire. Want colder than charity, 
shivering at the street corners; chu 7 '~h towers humming with 
the .faint vibration of their own tongues, but newly resting 
from the ghostly preachment ‘One.’ The earth covered with 
a sable pall as for the burial of yesterday; the clumps of dark 
trees, its giant plumes of funeral feathers, waving sadly to 
and fro; all hushed, all noiseless, and in deep repose, save the 
swift clouds that skim across the moon, and the cautious wind, 
as, creeping after them upon the ground, it stops to listen, and 
goes rustling on, and stops again, and follows, like a savage on 
the trail. 

Whither go the winds and clouds so eagerly? If, like 
guilty spirits, they repair to some dread conference with pow¬ 
ers like themselves, in what wild regions do the elements hold 
council, or where unbend in terrible disport? It was such a 
night as this that Sol and his accomplices slipped out of the 
car and sneaked along in the shadow of the trees up to the 
large veranda. 

All hooded, they noiselessly sneaked along upon the porch 
until they came to the door, when Sol knocked. 

“What’s wanted,” a voice within asked. 

“A telegram for Frank Butler,” replied a voice on the out¬ 
side. 

“He’s retired,” came the reply from within. 

28 


“It’s a very important telegram and it requires an answer/' 
from the outside, was replied. 

“Alright, I will let you in,” replied the voice from within, 
which was that of Mr. Sanford. 

He unlocked the door and in came a hooded figure. He 
had hardly gotten inside the door until there was heard a 
scramble and three other hooded figures were pushed inside 
by six stalwart policemen. 

Mr. Sanford was not only a very handsome old gentleman 
—upright and stalwart, with a massive gray head, a fine com¬ 
posure of face when silent, a figure that might have become 
corpulent, but for his being so continually in earnest that he 
gave it no rest, and a chin that might have subdued into a 
double chin but for the vehement emphasis in which it was 
constantly required to assist; but he was such a true gentle¬ 
man in his manner, so chivalrously polite his face was lighted 
by a smile of so much sweetness and tenderness, and it seem¬ 
ed so plain that he had nothing to hide, but showed himself ex¬ 
actly as he was—incapable of anything on a limited scale, and 
firing away with those blank great guns, because he carried 
no small arms, whatever—that a person could not have helped 
looking at him with equal pleasure as he stood out in the cen¬ 
ter of the room as these ten figures protruded themselves upon 
his presence. 

“Well, gentlemen, this is an unexpected meeting and a 
complete surprise to me. This is the first time in my life I 
have ever been favored with a visit from the Ku Klux Klan. 
I believe, that you said you had a telegram for Frank Butler, 
but it is a mystery why it takes four Klansmen and six stal¬ 
wart policemen to deliver the message. 

As he made these remarks, he stepped to a door and call¬ 
ed Frank Butler. 

Almost instantly, a figure in full K. K. K, uniform came 
into the room. As he came in, he uttered the following: 

“Paraaturiunt montes, ridiculus mus nascetur.” 

“1 see you gentlemen in robes have not the latest pass¬ 
word of your order. You must be in arrears of dues. Officers 

29 


please remove their side arms, as it ivill not be necessary for 
them to have them as we converse.” 

As the officers reached for the hooded men’s arms, they 
made some show of resistance. The two thugs were knocked 
down and Sol Haines was handled quite roughly, but the little 
lawyer was not touched as he handed out his gun. 

Four big 44 calibre revolvers were found upon them. 

“Remove their helmets, officers and let’s see who the ras¬ 
cals are, that are parading in false colors and are about to at¬ 
tempt a crime in the name of the K. K. K. 

Just imagine the position these miscreants were in, when 
they stood revealed. Sol Haines cringed and tried to put up 
a bluff that they were trying to play a practical joke on Frank 
Butler. When he found that he could not work that dodge, 
he commenced to plead for mercy. 

Frank Butler removed his helmet and remarked to them, 
that the reason a great many people had an atipathy for the 
K. K. K., was on account of just such dirty dogs as they were, 
masquerading as Kluckers and committing crime. 

The two thugs were given in charge of a couple of police¬ 
men, after their robes and helmets were removed these two 
policemen put them on. 

Sol and the lawyer were told to put on their helmets. Then 
Sol’s hands and feet were tied and he was carried out to a 
car, where they all took passage, Frank Butler and Mr. San¬ 
ford among the number. Frank kept on his regalia. 

“We will now proceed out to the cottage and see how mat¬ 
ters are out there,” said the chief. 

Five robed figures, four police and Mr. Sanford made up 
the party that repaired to the cottage. As they drew near the 
cottage, the four police were stationed about the house, one 
at the front door, one at the rear door and one each at the 
windows on either side. 

The four hooded figures carried Sol to the front door and 
rapped. “Who’s there,” asked a voice within. 

The chief punched Sol and had him to answer it was Sol. 

“Alright,” came from within. And a bolt was slid aside 
and they entered. 


30 


Sol, hooded, was thrown down on the mattress and the 
doctor was ordered to proceed. He handcuffed his hands to 
each of the staples in the floor and each of his feet were man¬ 
acled to the staples in the floor. He had all his surgical in¬ 
struments laid out on the table. 

"Pull off his helmet, so he can see what is about to take 
place,” said one of the hooded figures. 

As he did so, the doctor was thunderstruck as he perceiv¬ 
ed that it was Sol, who was the victim. 

“Remove your helmets and take off your robes, men and 
let this human vulture see who you are,” said the leader of 
the hooded figures. 

After he saw who they were he commenced to plead for 
mercy, but the chief answered all these pitiful pleas by telling 
him he cuold tell his tale of woe to the judge and at the same 
time placing handcuffs upon him. He and Sol were hand¬ 
cuffed to each other, but the laweyr was allowed to go unfet¬ 
tered. They were all taken to the city bastile to await trial, 
without bail. By good luck criminal court was in session and 
the grand jury brought in a true bill for attempted murder as 
well as a criminal operation. 


CHAPTER VII 

The arrest of Sol Haines and his four tools and the story of 
their attempted crime was a nine days wonder in the sleepy 
old town. It was on the tongues of almost every resident and 
the name of Frank Butler was uttered frequently with re¬ 
spect. The Klan was also spoken of in more respectful terms 
than before this occurrence, and by those who formerly de¬ 
nounced it in scathing terms. Some of whom said. “Perhaps 
we have been the least bit hasty in condemning something we 
positively knew nothing about but listened to Dame Rumor for 
our information.” 

Mr. Sanford, who had previously been a very pronounced 
opponent to the Klan, came out openly in their favor, remark¬ 
ing, “That if the Klan stood for what it did, he had no hesi¬ 
tancy in being willing to espouse its cause.” 

The local Klan had been waiting for the psychological mo¬ 
ment to carry out its ideas, and it perceived that the present 
time was the auspicious period to make its master stroke. Bills 
were scattered all over the town announcing that a monster 
K. K. K. parade in full regalia would be staged on a certain 
night at 9 P. M. Also a public initiation of aliens would take 
place at a certain field after the parade through the Main 
street of the town. Every one was given a special invitation 
to witness the whole proceedings. 

All who wanted to join the Klan would be accommodated 
by calling at a certain office on the afternoon of the parade. 

All those who were accepted would be notified and those 
were rejected their names would not be revealed. 

The town was all agog with excitement and many signified 
their willingness to become members, while others kept quiet 
and secretly made application. 

On the night of the parade, the Klan came out with 500 
robed figures, marching with military precision. Numerous 

32 


fiery crosses were carried and made the scene more impres¬ 
sive while a great many illuminated banners were shown. The 
rdogans on these banners caught the public and as they passed 
along the whole populace cheered. 

We will give the slogans of some of the banners: 

‘‘America for Americans.” 

“Separation of Church and State.” 

“Shut off Foreign Immigration.” 

“Free Schools for Our Children.” 

“Down With Lawlessness.” 

“Protection for Our Mothers, Our Sisters and Our Daugh¬ 
ters,” and numerous other as pungent ones. 

When the procession arrived at the lot where the initiation 
was to take place a quadrangle was formed with the initiates 
within about 275 strong. 

Among this number were some of the most prominent citi¬ 
zens of the town, Mr. Sanford being among them. Frank But¬ 
ler was the master of ceremonies as he was a former Grand 
Dragon. It was one of the greatest events ever pulled off in 
the town and everything passed off without a hitch. 

The next day, nothing could be heard except the talk about 
the parade. The day following the trial of Sol Haines and 
his four hirelings took place. 

A great amount of time was consumed in securing a jury 
as the defendant's lawyers asked each proposed juryman if he 
was a Klucker, a Knight of the Ku Klux Klan or a member of 
the Invisible Empire. If he answered in the affirmative, he 
was rejected. 

After this talk by the judge the jury was soon selected. 
We will not weary our readers with the minutiae of the trial 
but will merely mention that all the salient features of the 
case were brought out, notwithstanding the serious objections 
of the defendants' lawyers. 

The judge finally interferred, saying that if they were 
members of the order, it necessarily did not disqualify them, 
unless they were so biased as not to be able to bring in a ver¬ 
dict according to law and the evidence. “You will so be gov¬ 
erned in your rejections. You might just as well reject a man 

33 


for being a Mason or an Odd Fellow or a member of any other 
secret order.” 

The court room was paved with human faces. From the 
railing of the court officials and lawyers away into the sharp¬ 
est angle of the smallest corner, all the looks were fixed upon 
the prisoners. Before them and behind; on the right and on 
the left; they seemed to stand surrounded by a firmament, all 
bright with gleaming eyes. 

They sat there, in all this glare of living light, with their 
hands clutching their chairs and their heads thrust forward to 
enable them to catch with greater distinctness every word that 
fell from the judge, who was delivering the charge to the jury. 
At times, Sol turned his eyes sharply upon them to observe the 
effect of the slightest featherweight in his favor; and when 
the points against him were stated with terrible distinctness, 
looked towards his counsel, in mute appeal, that he would, 
even then, urge something in his behalf. Beyond these mani¬ 
festations of anxiety, he stirred not hand or foot. He had 
scarcely moved since the trial began; and now that the judge 
ceased to speak, he still remained in the same strained atti¬ 
tude of close attention, with his gaze bent on him as though 
he listened still. 

As the jury passed out, he looked wistfully, into their faces, 
one by one, as though to see which way the greater number 
leaned; but that was fruitless. The jailer touched him on the 
shoulder. He followed him back to the jail with the other 
three prisoners to await the verdict of the jury. 

The jury was.out only about one-half hour, when they filed 
back into the court room. Sol and the other prisoners were 
brought in. As they were all seated the judge asked the fore¬ 
man of the jury, if they had reached a verdict. Being in¬ 
formed they had, he asked, “what you say?” “Guilty as 
enlarged.” 

The building rang with a tremendous shout, and another 
and another, and then it echoed deep loud groans, that gather¬ 
ed strength as they welled out, like thunder. It was a peal of 
joy from the populace outside, greeting the news that the 
fiends had been convicted. 


34 


The noise subsided and the judge proceeded to make a 
short talk to the prisoners before he passed sentence. He 
told them they had been convicted of one of the most brutal 
criminal attempts and only the intervention of the officers pre¬ 
vented their carrying out their nefarious attempt and that 
they were worse than any craven things he knew of and that 
they each deserved more punishment than the law prescribed. 
But he hoped that no Governor would with mistaken mercy 
ever grant a parole or pardon to any one of them. He sen¬ 
tenced each to the full limit. Sol Haines got thirty years, the 
doctor twenty-five years; the two thugs twenty years apiece, 
and the lawyer was let off with a suspended sentence for good 
behavior for five years-, he to abstain from the use of narcotics 
or whisky for that time. If he failed to comply with the 
court’s order he was to be committed to the penitentiary for 
five years. This sentence was given for his turning state’s 
evidence. 

The address was solemn and impressive, the sentences fear¬ 
ful to hear. But Sol stood like a marble figure, without the 
motion of a nerve. His haggard face was still thrust forward, 
his under jaw hanging down, and his eyes staring out before 
him, when the jailer put his hand upon his arm and led him 
back to jail with the others. 

Thus ended one of the most sensational trials ever held in 
Sumpter. It also ended the frequent misdemeanors carried 
on by parties who were hooded and did business on the credit 
of the K. K. K. 

The convicted prisoners were taken to the penitentiary, 
where they were put to work and thus prevented from com¬ 
mitting farther depredations. 


35 


CHAPTER VIII. 

The story teller presents dangers that are not met with in 
the poet; he pries, pillages, and makes capital of all he sees. 
With him there is no tranquility, no certainty that he will not 
some day lay you bare in the pages of a book. His eye is like 
a pump that sucks up everything like the hand of a thief that 
is always at work. Nothing escapes him; he gathers and 
picks up ceaselessly, he notices the movements, the gestures, 
the intentions, the slightest incidents and events; he picks up 
the smallest words, the smallest actions, the smallest thing. 
He makes stock from morning till night of these observations, 
out of which he will make a good telling story, a story, some¬ 
times, that will make the round of the world, which will be 
read, discussed, commented upon by thousands and thousands 
of people. And the most terrible part of all is that the wretch 
can not help drawing striking portraits, in spite of himself, un¬ 
consciously, because he sees things as they are, and he must 
relate what he sees and hears. Notwithstanding the cunning 
he uses in disguising his personages, it will be said, “Did you 
recognize Mr. B—. and Mrs. C—? They are striking re¬ 
semblances.” 

The occurrences that had taken place, here, in Sumpter 
and the trial had a very depressing effect upon Frank Butler. 
Since the night of the attempted kidnapping, he had changed 
his stopping place from the Sanford mansion to the hotel, but 
he did not do so without the serious protests of his host and 
hostess including Belle. But nothing they could say could in¬ 
duce him to stay, but he explained to them, that it was not on 
account of fear, or anything they had done, that urged him to 
make the change, and he farther remarked that he would 
have left the town immediately had he not been held as a ma- 

36 


terial witness. In fact, all the time he remained in town he 
kept himself removed and aloof from every one, except when 
he had to attend court. 

His actions were very mystifying to the Sanfords and es¬ 
pecially so to Belle. She could not imagine what she had 
done or any of her family had done or left undone to cause 
him to act as he was doing. 

It worried her so much that she took her parents into her 
confidence and discussed the matter thoroughly. At last she 
prevailed upon her father to go and see Frank and see if he 
could find out what the matter was. 

So, acting upon this, the father called at the hotel and in¬ 
quired for Frank. He was informed that he was up in his 
room, so he sent up his card, Frank sent back word, inviting 
him to come up. 

As Mr. Sanford knocked at Frank’s door, the latter open¬ 
ed it and invited him in. Mr. Sanford held out his hand and 
Frank clasped it and the former gave it a hearty squeeze, giv¬ 
ing Frank to understand that he was in the presence of a real 
friend. Frank invited him to be seated. As Mr. Sanford 
seated himself, he said, “My boy, what is the matter with you? 
Why have you refused our hospitality? And why have you 
sequestered yourself up in your room? Have we done any¬ 
thing to offend you, that you act as you have?” 

“No,” answered Frank with tears in his eyes. “Nothing 
of the kind, I hardly know how to answer your questions. But 
I will make a clean breast of my feelings which are the cause 
of my seemingly strange actions. I am ashamed to be in so¬ 
ciety.” 

“Why, my boy?” 

“Simply, that every one knows what those miscreants con¬ 
templated doing to me, and I have not the nerve to meet peo¬ 
ple.” 

“Is that the only reason?” asked Mr. Sanford. 

“Yes,” answered Frank. Arising from his chair, Mr. San¬ 
ford stepped up to him and placing his hand upon his shoulder, 
said, “My boy, I am surprised and at the same time rejoiced to 
find such a clean minded young man, but I think you are over 

37 


modest and are doing yourself an injustice, as well as causing 
your friends untold anxiety as well as misery. I insist that 
you come back to my house and stay the remainder of the time 
you are in the city.” 

“No, I am going to leave tonight for Hopewell,” answered 
Frank. 

“You surely are not going to go without bidding Mrs. San¬ 
ford, who has taken a great fancy to you, not only on account 
o f your own personality, but because she thinks there is a great 
resemblance between you and our son, whom we lost, when he 
was only ten years old, and also Belle. Good bye, are you?” 
exclaimed Mr. Sanford. 

“Yes, I must,” answered Frank, hesitatingly. 

“Now, look here, my boy, I can’t let you do this, as my 
wife and daughter hold you in the highest esteem and they 
will take it as though you do not care to see them, and I know 
a great deal different. Eh, my boy, you know that Belle, es¬ 
pecially will be glad to see you, leaving Mrs. Sanford wholly 
out of the question.” 

After considerable more argument Frank consented to go 
up to the Sanford mansion that evening. 

Mr. Sanford said they would expect him up for 6 o’clock 
dinner and that there would be no one else present except Mrs. 
Sanford, himself and Belle as the rest of the guests had gone 
out of the city to a bridge party and that it would be wholly 
informal affair, just a family dinner. 

After this Mr. Sanford took his departure. Soon after¬ 
wards, Frank received a telephone message from the Sanford 
home, stating that their car would be at the hotel at 5:30 to 
convey him up there. 

Promptly at 5:30 Frank’s telephone rang in his room at 
the hotel, going to the phone, he was informed by the clerk 
that Mr. Sanford’s car was awaiting him at the hotel drive¬ 
way entrance. He at once proceeded down stairs, having 
made ready to go, previously, according to agreement with 
Mr. Sanford, passing through the lobby of the hotel to the 
drive way, where the car was parked, awaiting his coming. 
He perceived Belie at the wheei, the door of the car standing 
ajar to admit him. Belle moh’cned him to take the seat by 

38 


her and as he seated himself in the car, the car speeded down 
the avenue. 

A few common place remarks were made, about the 
weather, etc. Belle said “she hoped she had not kept him 
waiting, he replied that time was no object to him. 

It was only a few minutes until the car entered the drive 
way of the Sanford’s, where the car stopped, as it reached 
the home. 

Frank assisted Belle out of the car and they went within. 

As they entered the reception room, Mrs. Sanford met 
them and extending her hand to Frank, clasped his in a very 
tight squeeze and a smile illumined her face. She gently 
drew him to her and throwing her arms around his neck and 
planted a kiss upon his forehead. 

As she did this, she exclaimed, “My boy, you have come 
back to a home that welcomes you, and which has been ex¬ 
ceedingly lonely while you have been away. Pardon me for 
treating you so cordially and sentimentally. For I look upon 
you as something I have been deprived of for several years. 
A son,” as she said this, she pressed him closer in a tight em¬ 
brace and tears streamed down her cheeks. You may think 
my actions strange, but I can’t control my feelings. From the 
very first time I saw you, I thought my beloved son, who died 
several years ago, had returned to life, and the more I saw 
you and thought of you,.when you were away, the more you 
appealed to me. No one but a mother can appreciate my 
feelings. Therefore, you will please excuse my seeming la- 
miliarity, my outburst of pent-up feelings.” 

Frank was touched beyond measure by the feelings of af¬ 
fection displayed by Mrs. Sanford, and his mind was carried 
back to the very pieasat home in the West, where he knew a 
gray-haired lady, undoubtedly was thinking 01 him. And 
whenever he came home, she acted in the same way that Mrs. 
Sanford had, who was always unwilling for him to leave home. 
While he was thus ruminating, she again kissed him and ne 
could not heip reciprocating and he heartily kissed the sweet 
up-turned face. 

At this juncture, Mr. Sanford appeared upon the scene, 
having observed how she was wrapped up in her greetings of 

39 


Frank, going up to her , said, “Mother, had you not better give 
Frank a chance to go to his room and get ready for dinner?” 

“Yes, daddy, but I was almost in Heaven, when the dear 
boy gave me the sonly kiss.” 

Mr. Sanford told Frank to take his old room and that din¬ 
ner would be served as soon as he was ready. I will await 
your return.” 

As Frank passed out into the hall, Belle met him. She 
looked as though she was hurt. 

“Say, Frank, why do you not greet me as you did mother. 
Why be so stingy with your caresses and kisses?” 

Frank was astonished, but going quickly to her side, he 
gently placed his arms about her and drew her to him and kiss¬ 
ed her upturned, inviting lips. 

Oh, the exquisite bliss, the purity, the chasity of a young 
virgin’s love. Calling forth all the music of her soul, teach¬ 
ing her that profound and ineffable idolatry in which the 
youthful heart only can be a worshipper, leading her to live 
amidst bright realities and far brighter dreams, conjuring up 
those exquisite imaginings that tinge with such roseate hues 
the pathway of the future, realizinz the most refined image of 
the heavenly passion, seeming boundless, illimitable, infinite 
as a rich incense that fills he earth to the very vaults of 
Heaven with its exquisite perfume, bathing all the senses in a 
fount of bliss, till existence itself seems to melt away into ob¬ 
livion—such is the young maiden’s true love. 

Yes, and it appears as if the spirit of a celestial melody 
poured its effluence into her soul, attuning all her feelings, all 
her thoughts, all her emotions, to this passicn so new to her. 
And within the final realms of the heart, as the mental vision 
looks deeply inward, the image of the lcved one is found im¬ 
pressed; and the mind experiences bliss in the thought that it 
cherishes a deathless sentiment. 

Oh, how the fancy disports and gambols, on unwearied 
wing in the paradise of its own creation. ’Tis the golden- 
hued honey which Providence has placed upon the brims of 
life’s bitter cup, and the heart feels as if it must perish were 
the spell that enthralls it to be no more. 

40 


This was the first time that Frank had ever held Belle in 
his arms, much less ever kissed her. 

How long they would have lingered in this sweet commun¬ 
ion, we can not tell, but they hastily came to themselves, when 
mother’s voice was heard, calling Belle. 



41 


CHAPTER IX. 

Indeed it was a very happy family group that sat down at 
the six o’clock dinner table that evening. Mr. Sanford re¬ 
marked, “Mother, I haven’t seen you as light-hearted and in 
such a happy vein in years as you are tonight. It puts me in 
mind of our youthful days, when I was wont to call on you and 
you met me at the door with a beaming smile and a lovely 
kiss.” 

“O hush, you must not tell tales out of school as they be¬ 
come contagious,” remarked Mrs. Sanford, and as she said 
this, she slyly looked at Belle, whose face assumed a pink 
color, instantly, and turning to Frank, she said, “Ain’t it a 
fact?” 

Frank was so flustered that he dropped his fork upon the 
floor, but Mrs. Sanford thoroughly enjoyed their embarrass¬ 
ment. 

“Well, children I understand you both, perfectly well. In 
fact I can read your minds, I know how the matter stands; I 
know I have found a son and Belle has found her future hus¬ 
band. I never could be more happy than to have such things 
some true.” More blushing on the part of Belle and more em¬ 
barrassment for Frank. 

“Mother, how can you be so presuming and plain?” spoke 
up Belle. 

“Never mind what your mother says, she is too happy to 
know just what she is saying. When she is extremely happ :, 
she says a lot of things that ordinarily she would leave un¬ 
said,” remarked Mr. Sanford. 

“Pass Frank some of the chicken, I know you have so as¬ 
tonished him and given him such a sudden shock that he is not 
doing himself justice in supplying the wants of nature,” re¬ 
marked the father. 


42 


After all the meal was highly enjoyed by all. They all 
appeared to understand the situation explicitly. 

After the meal, Frank and Belle repaired to the veranda, 
where they occupied an inviting upholstered swing. It would 
only hold two and they would have to sit quite closely at that. 

And as Belle sat by the side of Frank, with one fair hand 
locked in his own, she gazed upon him with looks of tender¬ 
ness, full of love, full of profound and impassioned affection; 
and the heightened color of her damask cheeks and the deep¬ 
ening scarlet of her plump and juicy mouth, combined with 
the gentle heaving of her bosom indicated the soft desires 
that were animating her soul. And as Frank felt the warm 
pressure of Belle’s hand, when, too, he saw the tint of the 
rose deepening into that of the carnation upon her cheeks, and 
her fine bright eyes becoming more melting and tender in ex¬ 
pression, he would have been something more or something 
less than a man had he not placed his arms about her and gen¬ 
tly drawn her to him and simply smothered her with kisses. 

With rapture, oh, with ineffable rapture, did he gaze upon 
this young, lovely, and confiding creature who had given her 
heart to him. 

“Beloved Belle,” he said in a soft, low tone, “you have ask¬ 
ed me if I am happy now, and I can truthfully reply that my 
felicity is complete. Only a short while ago since you per¬ 
mitted me to declare I loved you; and at that time you con¬ 
fessed to a kindred feeling.” 

“Yes, Frank, murmured Belle, burying her blushing coun¬ 
tenance upon her lover’s breast,” as she spoke, “since I threw 
myself into your arms and declared that I loved you as I did 
no other mortal, dearer than parents, and dearer than any¬ 
thing that wealth can bestow.” 

“And you have not repented of this promise, my Belle?” 
said Frank as he pressed her still more closely to him. 

“No, oh, no, I never shall repent,” she murmured, her 
whole form vibrating to his fond pressure; and throwing her 
head back in a soft, sensuous languor, she regarded the ceil¬ 
ing as if in deep communing with herself. 

And as that charming head was supported by the back of 

43 


the swing, the attitude which her person thus took was one of 
such complete abandonment that Frank had never known her 
to yield to before, an abandonment which profiled all the un¬ 
dulating lines of her full but symmetrical form. There was 
something irrestibly inviting, something overpoweringly rav¬ 
ishing in this attitude, and as Frank’s eyes swept over the 
beauteous features which were thus outlined and the flowing 
developments of her person which were thus thrown forth, he 
felt that he could die on behalf of one in whom so many graces 
and such marvellous attractions were concentrated. 

“Yes,” she resumed, her eyes closing and her bosom heav¬ 
ing with a profound sigh of pleasure, “I am thine, Frank, un¬ 
alterably thine.” 

“Dearest, dearest Belle,” exclaimed Frank, his whole form 
trembling with an unknown and ineffable joy, as he pressed 
her more closely to his heart and felt her glowing bosom palpi¬ 
tate beneath his arm, “What would you have me understand?” 

“That I am thine, to be your wife, my beloved, until death 
do us part,” she answered, in a tone of exultation and impas¬ 
sioned fervor, and throwing herself completely in his arms, 
she whispered in his ears, kiss me, kiss me roughly and do it 
often, for 1 love you fondly, wildly, and madly.” And as she 
thus spoke, she raised her head, from his shoulder where it 
had reposed; and, gazing upon him with her blushing, burning 
countenance, she looked into the depth of his eyes with an 
ardor that transfused its flames into his own soul. 

“Dearest Belle,” he murmured, what a glorious view of 
Heaven has this love of thine opened to my comprehension.” 

And then they gazed upon each other for a long time in 
silence; but love, even when it is mute, speaks with a thousand 
eloquent tongues, and the soul has an ear which catches all the 
delicious outpourings of those secret and mysterious voices. 
Oh, these are moments of ineffable bliss and surpassing ecs- 
tacy, when the very life appears to be melting in mingled joy 
and voluptious langor and when the impassioned looks that 
thus meet and thus convey vows more fervid than language 
could frame, unite in bliss and lose themselves for a long time 
in each other. 


44 


Yes, love has its intoxicating pleasures and its delirium of 
happiness; and Belle now experienced all the glowing rapture 
and the Elysian joyousness which fill the youthful heart when 
it feels another beating against it. And, carried away by the 
ardent longings which were devouring her, she pressed her 
lips to those of Frank; while he felt her entire form vibrating 
in his arms and her bosom palpitating like the long swell of 
the ocean after the whilrwind has swept over it. All their 
thoughts and all their senses were absorbed in the enjoyment 
of the blissful present. 

This was their betrothal, reader. 

It was quite late ere they noticed the time. In fact, time 
was no object to them. They had forgotten there was such a 
thing as time, so engrossed were they. They were aroused 
from their happiness by the crowing of the roosters and Frank 
looked at his watch and he saw it was past midnight. 

“Well, my dear, we had better go in as it is time for you 
to retire, if you have the nice bloom on your cheeks in the 
morning,” said Frank. 

“I hate to leave you my dear,” said Belle. 

“Well, I hate to have you, but we must get some sleep,” 
replied Frank. 

“I will see your father in the morning and tell him what 
we have done and ask him for your hand,” remarked Frank. 

“We must go in, now my dear,” said Frank. 

“Just kiss and hug me again Frank, so I can sleep well.” 

With a long lingering kiss and a tender embrace, they 
parted at the bottom of the stairway. 


C5 


CHAPTER X. 

Years ago they were wont to say that the apportionment 
of six hours’ sleep to a man, seven hours’ sleep to a woman and 
eight hours’ sleep to a fool was about right. 

There can be no set rules for regulating sleep. The 
amount of sleep you require depends upon the kind of work 
you have to do. 

There is one thing sure, however, if you fail to sleep 
enough you will fail to work enough. 

It is self evident that Frank and Belle had the requisite 
amount for they arose in the morning, looking bright and 
cheerful ^nd perfectly happy. And as they met at the break¬ 
fast table/ there appeared to be an atmosphere of jolity among 
the whole quartette—Frank, Belle, and the father and mother. 

“I hope you had a pleasant night’s sleep,” remarked Mrs. 
Sanford with a smile, addressing her remark to Frank. 

“Yes, thank you, I had a very pleasant night’s rest,” ans¬ 
wered Frank. 

“Well,” remarked Mr. Sanford, “If there is a hell on earth 
it’s located in a sleepless chamber. If there is a bottomless 
pit of punishment this side of the river Styx, it’s insomnia. If 
you want to see the fallen angels, watch the ghostlike figures 
as they dance before your tortured mind at midnight. Me- 
phistopheles, Moloch, Shedim and Titan had nothing on the 
ghoul that invented insomnia. Of all the dim, dark, unknown 
alleys; of all the haunted, hated halls on earth, it’s the bed¬ 
room filled with the bugs of wakefulness.” 

“Say father, you must have been riding a nightmare, some¬ 
time in your young life or else you- could not give such a vivid 
picture of insomnia,” said Belle. 

Pleasantly the breakfast hour was passed and as they arose 
from the table, Frank followed Mr. Sanford out into the re¬ 
ception room and indicated to him that he would like a few 
words with him. 


46 


“What is it, my boy?” said Mr. Sanford. 

“Well, to get down to brass tacks, without any flowery pre¬ 
liminaries, I want to marry Belle and I wish to get your con¬ 
sent,” Mr. Sandford. 

“All matters pertaining to the woman’s department or 
household affairs and heart matters, where they are not phy¬ 
sical, I leave them to my wife and daughter,” remarked Mr. 
Sanford. 

“I do not mix up in any of those things. Belle is old 
enough to make her own choice as to a husband and you will 
have to make all your arrangements with her,” said Sanford. 

“But I will say this. I admire a young man, who is not 
afraid to work and carve out his own fortune, I have become 
nauseated with the young men in this immediate section. They 
live off of their fathers, their grand-fathers and their great 
grand-fathers. The ancestors, by feeding himself but once a 
way, and then with a piece of fat pork anchored to a cotton 
cord, half-soling his own pants with seaweed and going bare¬ 
foot in summer to save his shoes, he was able to hang to his 
land until the industry and enterprise of others made it worth 
almost a dollar an acre, when he passed it on to his posterity 
simply because it was not portable. The unearned increment 
accumulated from generation to generation in a ratio of geo¬ 
metrical progression, until his spawn became as rich as grease 
and slung on more unadulterated agony than a Washington 
nigger with a brass watch. And I believe that you are a man 
that will make yourself worthy of the esteem of any com¬ 
munity in which you may be thrown. Yes, my boy, I have no 
objections to you, but we will call Belle in here and see what 
she has to say upon the subject.” Saying this, he went to the 
door and called Belle. As she came into the room, he said, 
“What do you think, my daughter, this young man has had 
the nerve to ask me for your hand in marriage? What do 
you think of that, my young lady?” 

“I do not see anything out of the way in that,” said Belle 
with a very demure air. 

“I told him, he would have to arrange matters with you as 
I was no doctor and was not up on heart difficulties.” 

47 


“I will see you both later, good morning,” and away he 
went. 

“Ain’t he a darling?” remarked Belle. 

“He certainly is,” said Frank. 

The forenoon was spent in cooing and wooing except when 
Mrs. Sanford came in and congratulated both upon their hap¬ 
py choice. “I told you, Frank, that I had found a son and I 
now know that I was not mistaken. 

“Mother, I am going to get jealous of you. I believe you 
are in love with Frank,” said Belle. 

“I certainly am, but it is a different kind of love from yours 
and she gave Frank a sly wink. 

Mrs. Sanford and Belle had grown up not so much as moth¬ 
er and daughter, but nearer like two sisters. In fact there 
was only sixteen years difference in their ages. For this rea¬ 
son, and mother had kept young apparentlv. She had made 
home and home duties her pleasure, and, having tried to do 
her whole duty, she had kept her heart young, and she found 
increased happiness and honor in every added year, rejoicing 
with joy unspeakable in the love and devotion of Belle, who 
had seen in her mother’s age but the “sunset breaking into 
day.” Mrs.. Sanford’s whole life had been wrapped up in 
Belle since the death of her son and now, she was dividing it 
with Frank, who was to be her son-in-law. What made her 
love stronger for him was the fancied resemblance of him to 
her departed son. 

While they were translated to the Elysian fields of unal¬ 
loyed love, a messenger boy came on the scene with a telegram 
from the company for Frank. It notified him to take the first 
train for Hopewell without fail. 

What was he to do?“You will have to go Frank, but try 
and get back just as soon as possible,” said Belle. 

He telephoned to the station to see how soon he could get 
a train. He was informed that one went within a half hour. 
Hurriedly he packed his grip and bid Mrs. Sanford ‘good-bye,’ 
and Belle took him to the train in her car. 

Write me as soon as you get to Hopewell and let me know 

48 


what the urgent business is, said Belle as she gave him a good 
bye kiss in the car. 

He promised so to do and he had hardly time to get out of 
the car and get his train. He waved her an adieu from the 
rear of the car and she waved to him until the train went out 
of sight around the curve. 

Frank had been experimenting in making a new gas to be 
used in the war and he had perfected the same. It was made 
from several ingredients and, they were shipped in separate 
parts until they were to be used. Frank was the inventor and 
no one knew how to manipulate the several parts in right 
quantities to make the gas. It had been tried out at the works 
and worked perfectly satisfactorily. 

The DePont people had received a big order for the same 
to be shipped to France at once. And as Frank was the only 
one who knew how to mix it, he had to go across the seas to 
manage the business. 

He was told to get ready and take the first train for New 
York and enship there as the ingrediates were already loaded 
on boat. 

Frank suggested that it was very sudden and that undoubt¬ 
edly he could get his assistant to go in his place as he could in¬ 
form him how to mix the different materials. But the com¬ 
pany would not have it that way and insisted that Frank 
should go. 

Hastily writing to Belle, he informed her about the matter 
and told her he would telegraph as soon as he arrived in New 
York. 

It will be remembered by our readers that during the late 
war the United States were filled with German spies and an¬ 
archists and a great number of trusted Americans were in the 
employ of these Germans. 

Spies were located in all the big powder plants and every 
other concern, where they could gain any knowledge that 
might be of use to them. 

The DuPont Powder Company was not an exception. 

As soon as Frank started for New York the spies were in¬ 
formed of it there. They even knew that he was the inventor 

49 


of a new kind of gas and that an amount had been shipped and 
that he was going to France to develop the same. 1 

“I must see Detective Burns at once—where is he?—hurry 
up and tell me. The attendant in Detective Barnes’ office was 
almost carried off his feet b ythe inrush of a wild-eyed girl, 
crazy with excitement. 

Detective Barnes come in jumps towards him, and the girl 
flung herself into his arms. 

“What’s the matter, my dear young lady?” asked the de¬ 
tective. 

He almost forced her into a chair and made her sit down. 
She was so excited that her teeth fairly chattered and she was 
all of a tremble. She appeared like a person who had the 
tremors. She clutched the air for something she could not 
reach, as if for support and finding none her hands dropped 
down on her lap. Her eyes were restless and her lips quiver¬ 
ed. Evidently she stood in deathly fear of something. She 
was simply hysterical. 

She was an attractive girl of about nineteen years of age, 
so young, so fair, of medium height and slender form. Her 
whole form was characterized by girlish symetry and woman- 
Iv elegance, so blended as to constitute alike the grace and the 
glory of nineteen summers, but it was her face that would fas¬ 
cinate a person. And though of this nymphlike symetry, she 
was not thin, but of exquisite proportions, her figure being 
characterized by that gradual and easy transition between all 
the contours and by that beautiful softness of outline which 
realize the matchless graces of Grecian statues. She had deli¬ 
cately moulded features, intense unfathomable eyes of dark 
brown, and lips that showed her idealistic, high-strung tem¬ 
perament. Speaking gently to her, Barnes asked her, “what’s 
the matter. Please collect your thoughts, steady up and pull 
yourself together.” 

She looked about the room as if they were sentinels or 
spies, but still, she wanted to tell something but could not 
pluck up enough courage to speak out. 

“I am afraid of my life. Please, kind sir help me. I wi.l 
r-e murdered, if I do not kill a party.” 


Barnes thought he had a crazy person to deal with. ‘Mur¬ 
der, how can you commit murder ?” 

“Yes, you know the DuPont Powder Company. Well, they 
have a chemist in their employ whom they have started on a 
trip to France to instruct the armies in handling a new kind of 
gas that he has invented. The anarchistic spies kidnapped 
him and are going to make him give up the formula and then 
kill him. And it is to be done tonight and you have not a sin¬ 
gle minute to spare, if you want to save his life.^ 

Barnes was astonished at her revelation. She handed him 
her card, it read, Miss Phoebe Perkins. 

“I belong to a secret conclave, in fact I am an anarchist. I 
belong to an iron bound group of men and women. The ob¬ 
ject of this order, is to kill all prominent men, statesmen, finan¬ 
ciers as well as military men. 

“I was drawn to do the killing and if I don’t I will be killed 
myself. I can’t commit the deed, as the young man has never 
done me or any of us a wrong. I escaped from the headquar¬ 
ters and came here in hopes you might be able to head off the 
murder.” 

“You expect to lure the victim into your clutches and then 
make away with him, is that the plan?” “Yes.” 

Her eager, flushed face betrayed the enthusiasm which 
had once carried her into the gang as she called it. 

“We are no longer making war against man, we are mak¬ 
ing war against gas and electricity.” 

“Why, have you come to me?” The question seemed to 
puzzle her. “At first, I was carried away with the project, 
but later, I have seen the inhumanity in it and I want to get 
away from the crowd, but I fear them, as they would not hesi¬ 
tate for an instant in killing me if they knew I had been here.” 


51 


CHAPTER XI. 

When Belle received no word from Frank for a couple of 
days she became very uneasy and consulted with her father as 
to the advisibility of telegraphing the Dupont people. Her 
lather advised her to wait another day, but she could not stand 
the suspense, so she sent them a message, asking them if they 
had heard from Frank Butler since he arrived in New York. 

A telegram was sent her from the firm stating that nothing 
had been heard of him. Belle at once got into communication 
with the chief of New York detectives and instructed to see 
if the Shamrock, the vessel Frank was to sail on, on had left 
and to see if Frank Butler had shipped on the same. 

The DuPont people got busy and sent telegrams to New 
York also. 

They immediately got an answer back that Frank Butler 
had been kidnapped by an anachist group and that they were 
on their trial. 

The head of the company telegraphed Belle the facts as he 
had learned them and immediately repaired to New York and 
sought out the chief of police. 

A thorough investigation showed that Detective Barnes 
had sent his men to the gang’s headquarters but the birds had 
flown. He then went to the shipping dock and found out that 
the boat had left and that several men had boarded the boat 
with an alleged sick man, who was unconscious. 

Putting all these circumstances together it was surmised 
that the gang were unable to get the formula from Frank, had 
drugged him and carried him onto the boat. At the same 
time using his passports and passed themselves off as his as¬ 
sistants. 

Belle and her father went to New York by the first train 
after receiving the telegram from the company, stating he had 
been kidnapped. 


52 


DuPont chartered a special yacht and getting the detec¬ 
tives, he ran across Belle and her father in the detective’s of¬ 
fice. She insisted upon going along, but they pursuaded her 
that it were better that she did not. DuPont, however, agree¬ 
ing to send her a wireless, if anything turned up. 

In a few hours, the DuPont yacht gave chase. It being a 
fast going ship, they expected to overtake the Shamrock in a 
few hours. 

Belle met Miss Phoebe Perkins at the detective’s office and 
at once learning of her errand to the office became interested 
in her. The girl was all excitement and she feared for her 
life, if she staid in New York, so Belle invited her to go along 
home with her and to stay there temporarily until it might be 
safe for her to venture out in public. 

When Frank Butler came to, he found himself confined in 
a small room with an attendant, as he supposed, but who 
proved to be a guard. 

“Where am I? and what causes the room to rock so much 
like a boat?” asked Frank of the guard. 

“You are on a boat,” answered the guard. 

How comes it that I am on a boat, and how did I get here?” 
asked Frank. 

“Ycu were insensible and was carried aboard the boat ten 
days ago,” replied the guard. 

“How was that?” 

“You were scheduled to sail on this boat and had it not 
been for your friends taking charge of you, you would have 
failed to make the boat and it was for the government’s inter¬ 
est that you surely sailed on this boat,” answered the guard. 

“What made me insensible and where did it occur?” asked 
Frank. 

“You will know all as soon as you are able to be up,” re¬ 
plied the guard. 

Frank was not just satisfied with these explanations and 
he commenced to meditate, but his mind was simply a blank 
at that time. 

As he lay upon his couch that night, his mind came back 
to him. He remembered that he was on his way to the steam- 

53 


ship company’s office and that he was pounced upon by a mob 
and some drug was placed under his nose and that was as far 
as he could remember as he had been practically drugged ever 
since. 

He commenced to meditate what it was done for and where 
he now was and what the outcome would be. Well, he 
thought to himself, I will have to watch and try and discover 
what is up. 

At th.'s he dosed off to sleep and did not awaken until call¬ 
ed by his guard. 

“It is time you were getting up. My orders are to take you 
down to the mess-room and get your breakfast,” remarked the 
guard. 

“How long have you been my master, and by whose orders 
am I supposed to obey?” asked Frank. 

“Never mind, you may not be so important a personage 
when you find out where you are and under whose command 
; ou are,” replied the guard. 

The Germans had demonstrated to their entire satisfaction 
that they could get by the ally forces with their submarines as 
they had made two trips across with their submarine and had 
come off without any apparent difficulty. 

They had also effected a sort of understanding with the 
Mexicans and were running troops into that country as well 
as arms. There was no question but they had a headquarters 
for all of this business upon some of the many islands in the At¬ 
lantic Ocean off the coast of Mexico or South America. This 
machination was all perfected so that in case America was 
drawn into the war in opposition to them they would have an 
ally on this side, who might be able to harass the United States 
and prevent them from sending troops across the ocean. 

They had made their headquarters for coaling and dis¬ 
pensing guns and ammunition on an island near St. Thomas. 

So after the United States had declared war upon Ger¬ 
many, the latter country had the Atlantic pretty well covered 
with raiders. Their spies honeycombed the United States, 
not only foreigners, but some renegade Americans were in 
their employ. North Carolina furnished some, one of whom 

54 


is prominent in trying to blacken the reputation of some of our 
best men in the country. 

Their spies had discovered that the DuPont people had 
perfected a new gas and they were very anxious to get the 
formula. Their spies had been in the employ of the DuPont 
people and they knew that Frank Butler was the inventor of 
this new kind of gas and had been dispatched to go across the 
seas to demonstrate it. They were the parties who had ab¬ 
ducted him at New York and carried him on board of the 
steamer in an unconscious condition. 

After the ship had been out for a couple of days it was cap¬ 
tured by one of the German raiders and it was convoyed to the 
island, we have mentioned. Frank had been kept in a drug¬ 
ged condition for several days, but shortly after the ship was 
captured he was brought out of his drugged condition. 

Frank was taken before the conspirators and questioned 
in regard to the gas formula. They wanted it and they offer¬ 
ed to give him his freedom, if he would show them how to mix 
the ingredients as they had captured the whole boat load but 
it was no good to them without the formula as they could not 
mix it. 

Frank informed them he did not have the formula, as that 
had been sent across the seas in code, in order to prevent any 
occurrence of this kind. 

“It seems to us that you being the inventor of it, would 
surely know how to mix the ingredients without a written 
formula. You surely must know how it is done.” 

But Frank told them it was impossible for him to remember 
hardly anything as he had been drugged as they well knew 
and that his mind was almost a blank. 

Well, we will not insist at present, but remember you will 
have to divluge the secret sooner or later. We shall keep you 
a prisoner until such a time as you see fit to give it up and then 
we will set you free. Nothing farther was done by the con¬ 
spirators until they arrived at the island, when Frank was 
taken off the boat and placed in a prison on the island. 


55 


CHAPTER XII. 

A month had now elapsed since Frank was consigned to 
the prison on the island. It will be remembered that he was 
nut in there simply for the purpose of his giving up the secret 
formula. It was a small room and indifferently appointed. A 
small bedstead in the recess of the room, a table, a couple of 
chairs, a washing stand and a few other necessaries, constitut¬ 
ed the furniture. There were two windows, each well pro¬ 
tected with iron bars, and looking down into a gloomv court¬ 
yard with high walls belonging to other portions of the build¬ 
ing, so that escape in that quarter appeared to be impossible. 
The door was massive and studded with large nails; bolts had 
creaked and chains had rattled outside when it was closed 
upon him; and indeed every circumstance but too plainly in¬ 
dicated that this was in all respects a prison-chamber. Let 
us add that it was on the first story and was approached by a 
long dark corridor, in which Frank was occasionally allowed 
to walk, and our description is as complete as the purposes of 
the narrative require. 

Bu" now let us specially note the incidents of his first day’s 
incarceration. At about one o’clock a domestic brought in a 
rray furnished with copious materials for a succulent repast, 
but it may be well understood that Frank was in no particular 
humor to partake of it. The man, without being precisely 
stern-looking was evidently of a cold and reserved disposition, 
a character well suited for such a place and such functions as 
those which he had to fulfil. Frank did not question him; for, 
he was tolerably well convinced that theis menial could know 
nothing of the secrets regarding his captivity, and if he did he 
would not betray them. 

Before quitting the room, he said, in a tone that was coldlv 
polite, “I am commanded, sir, to wait upon you with your 
meals three times a day, and on each occasion whatever orders 
you may wish to give shall be obeyed, consistently with the 

56 


rules of the place. Books and writing materials you can 
have—” 

“Yes, bring me books and writing materials,” exclaimed 
Frank, to whom it was at least some consolation to perceive 
that he was not to be treated with any extraordinary degree 
of severity. 

The guard retired, and soon reappeared with his arms full 
of books and plenty of writing material. You can write as 
much as you please but everything you write will be examined. 

Having thus spoken he left, carefully locking the door. In 
the evening he was allowed a light and he could keep it 
burning as late as he desired. This was his regular routine. 

He became restless and he wondered what his friends 
would think had become of him. He could hardly restrain an 
outburst of bitter anguish as he thought of his much-loved and 
far off Belle. What could she think of a silence so unac¬ 
countable and an absence so prolonged? Must she not either 
believe him false, or else some terrible calamity had befallen 
him? In either case, he pictured to himself all the anguish 
which that charming creature was thus doomed to endure; 
and it went to his soul to reflect that so young, so lovely, and so 
affectionate a being should be plunged into such deen diet: err. 

Our young hero’s state of mind was not,therefore, ve^v 
felicitious; and a month passed in deep uncertainties, va^yin? 
excitements, and perplexing anxieties. 

One night Frank had retired to rest earlier than usual, for 
his health had begun to fail him in the close captivity of that 
chamber, and, moreover, he had been giving way with a verv 
painful intensity to the poignancy of his thoughts during the 
evening. The clocks in the towers about proclaimed the heir’ 
of nine, when he extinguished his light, he thus sought hi : 
bunk, exhausted alike in mind and body. A deep slumber fell 
upon him, and he was gradually borne into Elysian mazes of a 
delicious dream. 

He fancied he was sleeping on a splendid sofa in a mag¬ 
nificently furnished apartment; he thought he saw himself 
thus reclining full dressed, as if it were in the daytime that he 
had lain down in this manner to rest for a short time. The 

57 


place seemed flooded with light, a sort of celestial lustre that 
rendered every nook and corner as clear and shadowless as 
the center of the room itself. Angels appeared to be passing 
through the ambrosial air, beauteous forms displaying a lithe 
and slender symmetry in the scant azure drapery that floated 
with a grace which no sculptural skill could ever illustrate in 
the massive marble. 

All of a sudden he awoke and he believed it was an intima¬ 
tion sent from Heaven to cheer him up. 

While in the fervor of his grateful piety he was silently 
breathing a prayer to his maker, he was suddenly startled by 
a singular noise which seemed to come from within the wains- 
ccating of the recess that contained his bunk whereon he lay. 
He listened; the noise ceased. He concluded he had been 
mistaken, and he endeavored to go to sleep. But just as his 
eyelids were closing beneath the batlike wing of drowsiness, 
that strange sound was repeated. 

He started up, held his breath, and listened more attentive¬ 
ly than at first. The noise was like someone endeavoring to 
pierce through the masonry by means of an instrument that 
worked tediousiy in a stealthy manner, rather than with a 
boldness which cared not for discovery. The thought instant¬ 
ly struck Frank that some prisoner in the next apartment was 
trying to escape; and this idea thrilled with a sensation of joy 
to his heart, for the same means which could afford the hope 
of flight to a fellow captive would avail also for himself. 

The noise confined, and Frank was on the point of knock¬ 
ing gently in order to lead the party, whoever it was, into con¬ 
versation, but he checked himself and paused to reflect before 
he took any step whatsoever in the matter. Once more he lay 
down but still listening. As he listened he heard bricks and 
mortar falling in the hollow place in the wainscotting. After 
a couple of hours, he heard the party replacing the brick, pos¬ 
sibly to conceal his work from the guard, the next morning. 

Frank finally dropped off to sleep and when he awoke in the 
morning, he could hardly believe what took place the night 
before. 

In the morning when the guard visited him and gave him 

58 


his breakfast, Frank asked him if there were other prisoners 
in the prison. 

The guard told him he did not know. After breakfast the 
guard retired and an old woman came in to tidy up his room. 

She had him go into the recess while she fixed up things 
in the room proper. After doing this she had him come back 
into the room. She stepped into the doorway and as she did 
so, she slipped him a note, which he clutched with eagerness 
the same as a drowning man would a straw. The following 
was the contents: 

“Fellow Prisoner—If you value your liberty and are de¬ 
sirous to escape from this dreadful place, lend your assistance 
to one who is already working to the same end. Be not alarm¬ 
ed, therefore, at any unusual noise which you hear or at, any 
strange occurrence that may take place during the coming 
night, but be in readiness to fulfill any instructions you may 
receive. I am told you are a Yankee, and you will see by this 
that it is a fellow countrywoman who thus addresses you.” 

Frank was indeed, astonished to discover that his ventur¬ 
ous neighbor was a female. He also discovered that she was 
an educated personage by her writing. Also that the old fe¬ 
male servant was her accomplice in her project of escape. But 
it was a mystery to him how she expected to escape by getting 
from one prison room to another. 

The day passed very slowly for Frank, waiting for the 
night operations to take place. He thought the evening would 
never come. He was as impatient as a little child waiting for 
Christmas. However as nearly everything must have an end 
the evening came. At nine o’clock Frank’s supper was 
brought to him, but he hardly tasted it, so impatient was he to 
observe developments. 

Candles were lighted but he was so nervous he could not 
get his mind into a proper mode to read. He got up from his 
chair and paced the room much agitated, then he sat down 
and reread the note for the tenth time. 

It was beautifully written and how he wished that it had 
been written by Belle. He only hoped that the adventure 
would give him his freedom. 


59 


Just as the clocks struck eleven, Frank became suddenly 
aware of a suspicious scratching noise in the recess as upon 
the previous night. 

“Is that woodwork?” suddenly asked a soft female voice 
trom the other side. “Yes,” answered Frank. 

“If you want to escape, you will have to assist me in tearing 
off the wainscotting,” said the same musical voice. 

Frank told her he would give her all the assistance possi¬ 
ble. He then went to work and he speedily loosenea a panel 
of the wainscotting with a knife that was with his supper- 
dishes. He found that a two foot opening had been made in 
the solid masonry as he pulled off the panel. 

“Take all these tools—haste—quick,” said the woman in 
the adjoining room; and as she spoke she pushed through a 
ladder of twisted silk and pieces of wood, several files, a bot¬ 
tle of fluid, some skeleton kbys, a small crowbar and several 
•other things. Frank, hastily took them and he was sure that 
an escape was surely contemplated. After taking in these 
things a soft mellow voice said, now help me through. 

At the same time a pair of well-rounded, plump and snowy- 
white arms were thrust through the excavation; immediately 
came a head covered with a thick black veil, followed by a 
bust whose proportions were fraught with all the freshness of 
youth. In fine, our hero, taking hold of the female’s arms, as¬ 
sisted her as well and as delicately as he was able to pass her 
entire form through the opening. 

When this was done and the heroine of the adventure, be¬ 
ing raised upon her feet, stood before Frank, the rapid glance 
he gave her expressed a certain amount of curiosity. She was 
cf middle height, with a form of youthful appearance, perfect- 
1” symmetrical in shape and characterized by a lady-like ap¬ 
pearance. But she had a veil on, but this did not prevent her 
from seeing alright, but it was not possible for Frank to see 
her face. She inspected Frank thoroughly for several min¬ 
utes ,as could be perceived by Frank. Her veil was tied se¬ 
curely in order to prevent its coming off and exposing her face. 

“You are doubtless astonished to see my face thus veiled?’- 
che remarked in very suave and melting terms of her musical 

60 


voise, “but it is on account of a solemn vow I have made/’ 

“A vow?” exclaimed Frank, in astonishment and almost 
with an accent of suspicion. 

“Yes, it is a vow,” she responded, drawing herself up in a 
dignified way. 

“A vow hastily and rashly made, a vow pledged in the mo¬ 
ment of despair, but still I am bound to pay implicit devotion.” 

“But why so singular a vow?” inquired Frank, thinking 
her either mad or a nadventuress. 

“You thing I am mad,” she said, evidently reading his 
mind.. “Perhaps it were better were I,”- speaking in a mourn¬ 
ful tone and tears coming to her eyes as she attempted to 
staunch them with her veil. 

“But I want to tell you that you are not engaging in this 
night’s business with a lunatic nor a vamp, but it is the beauty 
that this veil conceals, that is the cause of all my trouble. I 
have passed through an ordeal that seldom, if ever any woman 
is called upon to go through. I have been pestered almost to 
death by a lot of titled Germans who tried to take advantage 
of my friendless situation.” 

“And because you would not accept their attentions, you 
have been imprisoned?” said Frank, now believing her tale of 
woe.” 

“You have guessed* it exactly,” she responded. 

“I was abducted from my boat and brought a prisoner here 
some three weeks ago. I made a vow, then, in my excitement 
and despair and rage, that never again would I reveal my 
countenance to a being in the shape of a man. No, never, 
again,” she exclaimed with a sort of frenzied petulance, until 
I encounter some one who shall have learned to love me, not 
for the beauty of my countenance, or the magnitude of my 
fortune, but for those gentle, endearing and more sterling 
qualities which as a woman, I possess. Now, then, let us get 
to work and try to escape.” 

“That is, after all, the principal point,” said Frank. 

“But tell me—” 

“One word,” she interrupted, with a sort of impatient way. 
“We must know how to address each other during the short 

61 




time we are together. What’s your name?” 

“Frank Butler.” 

“And mine is Mamie Simmons,” she immediately rejoined 
in a manner of unaffected simplicity, which almost made 
Frank mad at himself for suspecting her. 

“Perhaps you have heard of me before?” 

“No, never,” answered Frank. “But permit me to ob¬ 
serve that since your enemies are so rancorous after you, it 
will be my duty to give you ample protection, as far as lays in 
my power,” said Frank. 

“Which I shall accept cheerfully and thankfully when I get 
back to the United States,” replied Mamie. “And now let us 
apply ouuselves earnestly and vigorously to work.” 


62 



CHAPTER XIII. 

Chroniclers are privileged to enter where they list, and to 
come and go through keyholes, to ride upon the wind, to over¬ 
come, in their soring up and down, all obstacles of distance, 
time and place. Thrice blessed be the last consideration since 
it enables us to follow Col. DuPont and his yacht in their pur¬ 
suit of the vessel that left New York harbor with the materials 
for the manufacture of the new gas. 

The yacht was provisioned and equipped for a long jour¬ 
ney as was the custom of Col. DuPont as he never knew when 
he went out on a journey in it, how long it would take or when 
they would return. 

He directed his captain to follow along the course the 
freight steamer was booked to go. They ran along for three 
days without meeting a single boat, but on the morning of the 
fourth day the man in the lookout sighted something and he 
gave the signal to slow down. Cautiously they steamed along 
until they came within seeing distance and by the aid of their 
glasses were able to make out that it was some wreckage with 
a man upon it. 

They immediately put on steam and when near enough a 
boat was put out and manned by several seamen. They row¬ 
ed out to the raft and found a man in almost an insensible con¬ 
dition, lashed to the wreck. They took him aboard and went 
back to the yacht, where he was taken on deck. Stimulates 
were given him and he revived enough to inform them, he had 
oeen on an American freighter, loaded with chemicals, giv¬ 
ing the name of the ship as Shamrock, the ship that they were 
in seach of. He told them that they had been overhauled by 
a German raider, that was heavily armed and manned by a 
numerous crew. That both the ship and crew had been cap¬ 
tured by the raider. He also said that four seamen of the 
Shamrock had managed to throw off some planks and had 

63 


jumped into the sea. The planks were gathered together and a 
raft was made. He was one of the four. Two were drown¬ 
ed in perfecting the raft and only two of them succeeded in 
reaching a temporary haven. His partner, the night previous 
had been washed overboard by a heavy sea, thus leaving him 
as the only survivor. 

The raider put its own men in charge of the Shamrock and 
both of them steamed off in a southerly direction. 

A message was sent by wireless from the yacht, asking for 

aid. 

They steamed around in the neighborhood for several 
hours, when a ship hove in sight, which upon nearer approach 
was found to be an American warship, that had heard their 
message, calling for aid and had hastened to their assistance. 

As the warship drew alongside of the yacht, Col. DuPont 
saluted the commander and explained matters. After consul¬ 
tation, it was decided to take a southerly course and see if any¬ 
thing of the raider could be discovered. 

They skirted the whole eastern shore of the United States 
and down past Cuba, but nothing came of the hunt. So Col. 
DuPont, after refitting his yacht at an island, started back to 
New York. 

Upon arriving in New York, he found several telegrams 
awaiting him from Mr. Sanford, asking him to communicate 
with him as soon as he returned. 

Col. DuPont wired as soon as he received the telegrams 
the next day, Mr. Sanford and Belle left for New York. Upon 
their arrival they immediately went to DuPont’s office to seek 
information. He told them what the reader already knows 
and in addition, he informed them that undoubtedly Frank 
was on the ship as the description given by the sailor tallied 
with that of the supposed sick man who was carried on deck, 
just before she sailed. If that were the case, undoubtedly 
Frank was a prisoner in the hands of the German spies. 

After considerable discussion it was decided to go to Wash¬ 
ington and lay the matter before the secretary of the navy. 
Acting upon this decision, Col. DuPont, Mr. Sanford and Belle 
took the first train for Washington. 

64 


An audience was easily arranged on account of the promin¬ 
ence of the Colonel in regard to the furnishing of ammunition 
and supplies to the army and navy. The matter was thor¬ 
oughly gone over with the secretary. Belle suggested that 
undoubtedly that the Germans must have a rendezvous some¬ 
where in the Atlantic Ocean, if not on the islands, then on the 
coast of Mexico or the South American coast. But she was in¬ 
clined to think that it was on one of the small islands. 

“Your suggestion is one that has occurred frequently to 
me,” said the secretary. 

“I will act upon that assumption.” 

Orders were immediately dispatched for four destroyers 
and a couple of warships to get ready for immediate depar¬ 
ture. The commander of the fleet was called in and given or¬ 
ders to make a thorough search of all the islands and the sea 
coast, both along the coast of the United States, Mexico, and 
the South America coast. 

He farther stated to Col. DuPont, Mr. Sanford and Belle 
that if any information was gleaned about Frank, that he 
would notify them at once. 

Having accomplished their mission, Mr. Sanford and Belle 
left for home and Col. DuPont remained in Washington. 


CHAPTER XIV. 

“But have you already any settled plan which you are pur¬ 
suing, Miss Simmons? inquired Frank. 

“I have ascertained the whole plan of the range of build¬ 
ings. I gained my information from the old female, who waits 
on you, but I had to bribe her in order to win her over. It 
was she who furnished the implements that I succeeded in 
making through the wall into your room. I found out if I es¬ 
caped into the court yard from my window I would be detect¬ 
ed and from your room escape were possible as there is no 
guard in the court facing your room.” 

“Then your propose to file away the iron bars at the win¬ 
dow?” 

“Yes, that is just it.” 

“What is this bottle of fluid?” asked Frank. 

“That is nitric acid to make the bars soft,” answered Ma¬ 
mie. 

“The silken ladder is to descend from the window?” I 
suppose said Frank. “And the skeleton keys are to unlock 
the court doors?” 

“It is now 11:30, have we sufficient time before us to do 
what is before us? While saying this he went to the case¬ 
ment with his light and examined the bars. 

“It will take me two hours to cut two bars, and we will be 
able to get out of here before daylight.” 

“Yes, undoubtedly,” answered Mamie, with all the nervous 
trepidation of a captive impatient of being set free. 

This litle bit of conversation was suddenly stopped by a 
gruff voice, coming from the courtyard below, exclaiming, in 
German, “Shut that window and instantly put out the lights.” 

“Good Heavens,” exclaimed Mamie, clasping her hands in 

66 


evident despair; “it is the watchman going his rounds and he 
has observed us.” 

“I guess the jig is up with us,” said Frank. 

“Not so, not so,” ejaculated Mamie, as if suddenly imbued 
with new courage, “but we must abandon our work for to¬ 
night and in the morning I can find out from the old woman 
the exact hour the watchman makes his rounds and we can 
work accordingly, to-morrow night.” 

“Be it so,” said Frank, well pleased that she had not given 
up hope of escape. 

“Now then No. 20, are you going to put out your light?” 
exclaimed the same gruff voice. 

Frank went to the window and said, “My good friend, 
•this is the first time I have been ordered to put out my lights.” 

“Well, that was on account of our indulgence,” answered 
the watchman. 

“If you want to avoid being reported, you will do as I bid 
you without farther parley,” remarked the watchman. 

“Do as he asks you without any more words,” remarked 
Mamie, in a trembling voice. 

“Good night my friend, said Frank, and then he closed the 
window and put out the lights. 

The room was now sudednly plunged in total darkness, 
and Frank was in a very embarrassing predicament. There 
he was alone—in the utter obscurity and in the depth of the 
night—in a bed-chamber with a young and no doubt beautiful 
woman, a situation in which most men would have envied him. 
But his own high principles of honor and integrity, his fidelity 
to Belle Sanford, amounting positively to a devotion and a 
worship, and likewise the generous and manly considerations 
which he experienced on behalf of a young, eccentric, but 
heroic being whom circumstances had thus so suddenly thrown 
in his way, all these combined at once to raise him, as it we^e, 
above the embarrassment of his position and render him su¬ 
perior to its awkardness, perplexity and bewilderment. 

“Miss Simmons, I am more distressed on your account than 
mine,” said Frank. 

“Oh, that is nothing, Mr. Butler, provided success will 

67 


smile upon our undertaking to-morrow evening,” she replied. 

As she thus spoke, Frank perceived that she was coming 
towards him as he heard the rustle of her silk dress. In a 
few minutes he felt her hand laid gently upon his shoulder. 

“You have great courage, my young lady,” said Frank. 

“Yes, at times, but when the excitement is over, I go all to 
pieces,” and as she said this, she asked Frank to guide her to 
a chair as she felt as if she were going to faint, and as she said 
this she threw her naked, warm arms about his neck, as if to 
prevent herself from falling. 

Frank hastily conducted her to a chair, into which she 
sank like one overcome with physical ailments. 

“This veil suffocates me,” she said with a sort of impa¬ 
tience. 

“Thank Heaven a pitchy darkness prevails at this moment, 
so that I can take it off and breathe fresh air.” 

Frank knew by the sound that she was removing the veil. 

“Now give me a glass of water, Mr. Sanford, she said after 
an interim of silence. 

He felt his way to a shelf where the water and glasses were 
and returned to her and gave her the water. 

“Place the glass to my lips,” she said in a faint and dying 
tone, so that Frank became seriously alarmed, lest she would 
go into a dead faint. 

He raised the tumbler to her lips and lifted her head 
gently. 

“Enough, enough,” she murmured in a voice scarcely 
audible; and her head drooped completely against Frank’s 
breast, as he stood close by in a chair where she was seated. 

“Heavens, what can I do for you, Miss Simmons, he in¬ 
quired, being very much in a quandry what to do. 

“Nothing, I shall be better presently, she said faintly. “It 
is a passing indisposition; let me repose for a few minutes 
upon your couch and then I shall be so far restored as to be 
able to creep back into my own room.” 

As she thus spoke, she clung to Frank in such a manner 
that he was compelled to raise her in his arms and sustain her 
—indeed, we might say carry her—toward the couch. 

68 


But Frank bestowed these attentions upon her with as 
much tender delicacy as a brother would exhibit towards a 
well-beloved sister; and it might have also been with that sis¬ 
terly reliance on her part which present circumstances were 
so well calculated to inspire—it might have been, we say, in 
that same artless, ingenuous, and unsophisticated spirit that 
Mamie Simmons herself clung so tenaciously to our hero. 

At all events, full certain was it that her round plump 
arms encircled his neck, her full and well developed bust was 
in the closest contact with his chest, her head lay drooping u > 
on his shoulder, and her whole form was yielded up, as it 
were, in utter abandonment of exhaustion and faintness, as a 
sleeping child is borne in the arms of a father. He felt htv 
warm cheek against his own, her fragrant breath fanning his 
face, her silky tresses commingling with his own hair; as she 
heaved quick, short gaspings, like half suffocated sobs, the 
firm bosom palpitated with rapid undulations against his 
breast. Thus, had there been aught of grossness or impurity 
in his imaginations, he must have yielded to such exquisite 
temptations; for assuredly that position was seductive enough 
to melt the stoicism of an anchorite or vanquish the virtue of 
an angel. 


69 


CHAPTER XV. 

Mr. Sanford and Belle were not expected to be back home 
for at least a week or more. And a plot was being worked 
up to cause them some triuble. 

The Anarchists in New York—the gang to which Phoebe 
Perkins had been a member, had discovered that she had gi n 
the detectives a tip about the plot hatched up against Frank 
Butler. They had their spies out trying to get a trace of ner 
and her place of concealment. Every conceivable trail had 
been followed up and none of them gave “pay dirt” until one 
of them, conceived the idea of coming to Sumner and watch¬ 
ing the Sanfords. 

He had watched this home for several days without any 
results, until the day before the Sanfords came home, when 
by luck for the spy, Phoebe ventured out on the veranda and 
she was at once recognized by the spy. 

He immediately notified his headquarters of the fact in 
cipher. Word was instantly sent back to him, to watch and 
get in touch with matters about the mansion and find out how 
they could get into it, in case they could not prevail upon 
Phoebe, by some subterfuge to get her out of doors upon the 
lawn, where she could be grabbed and carried off without 
much trouble. 

Before Belle left for Washington, she cautioned Phoebe 
about keeping out of sight of any one. That she should stay 
indoors all the time while she was gone. 

The time for the kidnapping happened to come on the next 
day after the Sanfords came home. 

On this afternoon Phoebe was in the Sun Parlor, when she 
was startled by the scream of a small child, looking out of 
the window, she saw a large dog chasing a little girl upon the 
lawn. She immediately ran out of doors upon the lawn to 

70 


the assistance of the little girl, as she rounded a large mag¬ 
nolia tree, a cloth was thrown over her and she was picked up 
and carried to an auto that stood all gassed up in waiting, 
where she was hastily bundled into the same and it speeded 
off. 

Her screams aroused Belle and she was just able to get a 
glimpse of the two miscreants as they ran with her to the auto. 
She hastened to the telephone and called up the Chief of Po¬ 
lice and informed him of the occurrence and also told him the 
direction the auto took, as well as describing the auto in a 
very few words. The Chief sent out orders to his men to 
cover all the surrounding towns and highways and he notified 
all the towns along the line to be on watch for them. He also 
notified a great many people along the route they were sup¬ 
posed to have taken to stop a car of a certain description. He 
figured that they would make some small station on the rail¬ 
road and get into New York as soon as possible. The New 
York police were instructed to arrest them, if they showed 
up and to hold until they could reach there. 

About ten miles out of Sumner an attempt by some citizens 
to stop the car were futile but in a gun fusilade, the driver of 
the car had been hit by a bullet as the car swerved from the 
road and the wheel was grabbed by another party. The citi¬ 
zens of the next town were notified to stop the car at all haz¬ 
ards. To take no chances, to shoot to kill, if they did not stop, 
when ordered. A barricade was built in the street, there be¬ 
ing no way to detour, the kidnappers took a chance by trying 
to rush and force the auto through the obstructions. The auto 
crashed into the debris and the force of the contact caused the 
auto to stall. The abductors tried to make a gun play but it 
was futile as they were up against some real men. They were 
all handcuffed and taken to the city bastile and the Sumner 
authorities notified. There were four of the abductors, in¬ 
cluding the chauffeur. 

Phoebe was found gagged and her feet and hands tied 
and she was in an insensible condition. She was given im¬ 
mediate attention, being carried into a prominent citizen’s 
house. In a short time she was alright with the exception cl 

71 


stiffness in her arms and limbs from the cordage being too 
tight and interfering with her circulation. 

The Sumner Chief with his men soon made their appear¬ 
ance after hearing of the capture. All of the abductors were 
taken to Sumner and lodged in jail, to await preliminary trial. 
Phoebe was taken in charge by Belle, who had accompanied 
the Chief with her car. 

The prisoners asked the privilege of telegraphing to New 
York for a lawyer, which was granted. Phoebe was again 
back in her old room at the Sanford mansion. 

Mr. Sanford telegraphed to the federal district attorney 
and insisted upon his coming to Sumner at once and be present 
at the trial and also to have the U. S. Marshal there to arrest 
them, in case they were to get out on a technicality. I have 
not the most confidence in our judge here. He is said to be a 
German sympathizer. 

At the trial, their attorney attempted to have the kidnap¬ 
ping charged quashed, claiming that three of the men were 
brothers to Phoebe Perkins and the fourth was a brother-in- 
law and that Phoebe was a little off and had escaped from a 
sanitorium and that they had came on to get her as an escaped 
inmate. Mr. Sanford was assisting in the prosecution and af¬ 
ter their attorney had made his claim, Sanford addressed the 
court and said, that if the case was as they had stated that they 
should have gone at it in a legal manner, and not as abductors. 
The judge remarked that they wanted to cause as little talk 
and excitement as possible and thought the way they went 
about it was alright, but still it might be questioned as a techni¬ 
cality. 

He did not think they had committed anything criminal 
and that he did not feel the case had any serious features about 
it. 

“How about their trying to shoot down our citizens?” re¬ 
plied Sanford. 

“Oh, well, perhaps, they were justified in self-defense,” 
answered the judge. 

“I shall have to reserve my decision upon the matter,” 
ejaculated the judge. 


72 


Just wait judge, before you render that decision,” said San¬ 
ford. 

“We can prove that they are a gang of German anarchists 
and that they intended making way with Phoebe Perkins, as 
they had inveigled her into their club as she was in sympathy 
with the Germans but when they insisted upon her murdering 
Frank Butler, she gave the plot away to a detective. And 
now, you sit up there and insist they have committed no crime.” 

“I shall fine you $100 for contempt of court, Mr. Sanford 
and you will have to pay it instanter or go to jail,” blustered 
the judge with much anger. 

“Marshal, arrest that judge for bribery and being a Ger¬ 
man sympathizer,” spoke up a voice. At the same time, go¬ 
ing up to the judge and showing him that he was a U. S. dis¬ 
trict attorney. 

“Also take those four prisoners in charge and iron them 
and search them for arms and treasonable papers that they 
may have upon them,” said the U. S. district attorney. 

After having performed these little duties, I have one more 
request to ask of you, marshal, and that is to search the judge. 
You will undoubtedly find five one hundred dollar bills upon 
his person. He received them today from some parties, who 
are in court, now,—just then a party made a rush for the door, 
but was apprehended by one of the deputy marshals—“Yes, 
that is the man that made the donation, iron him also.” 

The marshal went through the pockets of the judge and 
sure enough, he found the bills just as the U. S. attorney had 
said. 

Never before in the history of the town of Sumner had 
there been such a denoument. 

They were all taken to New York and securely placed in 
the “Tombs,” New York’s noted prison. 

The reader may wonder how all this information was ob¬ 
tained. 

A detectaphone was placed in a large cell room after the 
prisoners were placed in jail and it was in another cell room, 
apart from the other, in which they were first placed. They 
were then removed to it. 


73 


In the meantime they had sent for the judge and had fixed 
him with the bribe, and he was to bind them over on a small 
fine, with the expectation that they would put it up in cash 
and then skip out. But, Sanford and the U. S. authorities 
were too smart for them. 

When their trial came up in New York, the four abductors 
were given a life sentence each, the one giving the judge the 
bribe was given twenty years and the judge thirty years. 


74 


CHAPTER XVI. 

Gently depositing Mamie Simmons upon the couch, Frank 
inwardly hoped, by everything solemn and sacred, that she 
would not fall off into a faint but speedily recover. He re¬ 
mained standing by the couch, in that same brotherly spirit, 
ready to administer to her wants; nor could he very well have 
done otherwise, as she was so nervous, she clung to both of 
his hands. 

“Do you feel any better, Miss Simmons ?” asked Frank. 

“Yes, much better, I thank you,” she responded, pressing 
his hands as in gratitude to her bosom. 

“You have been very kind to me,” she murmured in a very 
weak tone; no brother could have been kinder or more affec¬ 
tionate,” and she imprinted a kiss upon the hand which was 
nearest to her lips. Frank started perceptibly at what he 
thought a too tender gratitude; and the next moment Mamie 
suddenly abandoned her hold which she had on his hands, ex¬ 
claiming, “I feel so much better now that I will return to my 
own prison room. But you must assist me to pass through the 
aperture,” she added, with that musical vibration of tone 
which showed she was smiling at the idea. 

Rising slowly from the couch and in a manner which seem¬ 
ed to indicate that she was still weak and feeble, Miss Simmons 
felt her way toward the opening in the wall, Frank following 
close behind her. 

After a few vain attempts to pass through, she said, in a 
voice trembling with alarm, “Good Heavens, I can not possibly 
get back through the hole in the wall. You remember that you 
had to drag me through into your own room, and, therefore I 
can not pass back into my chamber unless similary assisted by 
some one there. What is to be done?” she demanded inpat- 
iently. 


75 


“Compose yourself, Miss Simmons, and try once more,” re¬ 
sponded Frank. 

“It is absolutely necessary for you to get back into your 
room or else we will be detected by the servants in the morn¬ 
ing.” 

“Oh, yes, the chances of our detection have now become 
fearful,” interrupted Mamie, clinging as if in despair to our 
young hero. “But it is no use for me to try and pass through 
that hole; I can not, it hurts me, it lacerates my flesh.” 

“Then what in Heaven’s name are we to do?” asked Frank, 
more cruelly bewildered and perplexed than ever. 

“There is no alternative, I fear,” replied the woman, in a 
tone that suddenly became solemn and serious for the predica¬ 
ment in which she was placed indeed seemed but too well cal¬ 
culated to shock the feelings of a modest damsel. 

“There is only one alternative, I say,” she repeated, “and 
that is to await as patiently as we can until the first dawn of 
morning shall afford us a glimmer of light by which we can 
enlarge the aperture. This will not take long to do, and will 
still leave ample time ere the coming of the jailer to replace 
all the masonry and woodwork, and thus remove all traces of 
our attempted escape. I fear Mr. Butler, there is no other 
way out of the difficulty.” 

“It, indeed, appears so,” observed Frank in a tone that 
clearly noted that he was very much embarrassed over the 
situation. 

Our young hero and the beautiful Mamie Simmons found 
themselves doomed to remain together for several hours in the 
pitch darkness of the prison surrounded by all the temptations 
of this strange predicament. 


76 


CHAPTER XVII. 

The fleet steamed quietly out from Hampton Roads without 
only the Commodore knowing its destination or the purpose of 
their cruise. All the seamen had to do was to obey orders 
without asking questions. 

On account of the numerous German spies in the United 
States, just before the war and during the war, it was next to 
impossible to distinguish them, and therefore, the utmost se¬ 
crecy was maintained to prevent a miscarriage of plans. 

All the ships of the fleet were to follow the flagship, upon 
which was the Commodore. 

The Atlantic Coast claimed the attention of the flagship, 
and orders were given to each of the several commanders of 
the ships to scan closely and thoroughly the coast for any of 
the enemy’s ships hid away in any of the numerous isolated 
inlets or bays. 

Nothing was found of a suspicious character and the Com¬ 
modore decided to circumnavigate the island of Cuba.. They 
made a complete circuit of the coast of the island and finally 
dropped anchor in the harbor of Havana. 

Shore lief was given to a great many of the marines and 
they were accompanied in most cases to the shore by some of 
the boats’ officers. During the war most of the ships carried 
detectives and this fleet was no exception to the general rule. 

While the fleet was anchored in Havana’s harbor, the fol¬ 
lowing conversation was overheard by the ship’s detective as 
he was amusing himself in one of Havana’s most popular mid¬ 
night resorts on the White Way. 

“With the secret wrested from Butler, we will make short 
work not only with our enemies in Europe but also the “smart 
Alex’s—the yanks. 

It was a woman’s voice and it caused the deteetive, who 

77 


was seated in an alcove, out of sight of the ones talking, to sit 
up and take due notice. 

Giving a little closer attention he heard the same party re¬ 
mark, “If Mamie Simmons can’t get the secret formula out of 
him with all her personal blandishments, I shall lose my 
guess.” 

“Do you think he will fall for her, or won’t he be able to 
fathom the trick about her being a prisoner and trying to es¬ 
cape?” answered her male escort. 

“He is a mighty clever fellow, but you must give Mamie 
credit with being a very smooth ‘jane.’ ” 

“Well, I know that, but for all that, won’t he get wise to 
her racket, no matter how clever she is in her manipulations? 
When she comes to get him to give her the formula of the gas,” 
remarked the gent. 

“1 don’t know, but just think, a young man full of pep and 
passion, shut up in prison, at midnight without any lights with 
a passionate, loving and beautiful young woman, who tries in 
every way to induce him to love her. He must be more than 
human to resist her blandishments. And if he does succumb 
to her wiles, she will surely get the formula from him,” re¬ 
marked the woman. 

“Time will only tell, and tonight is the night that the big 
event is to be pulled off,” said the man. 

“It took two men several hours to cut the hole through the 
wall, and the poor simpleton, undoubtedly thought Mamie did 
it, and that her tale of woe, about being persecuted by her 
many admirers on account of her beauty and wealth and put 
in jail, would appeal to him for aid, and also give him a chance 
to escape. But there is only one chance of failure. He is so 
conscientious, that it may be impossible for Mamie to overcome 
his scruples, as his thoughts are undoubtedly centered upon 
his betrothed, Belle Sanford, and that will prove his salva¬ 
tion,” responded the woman. 

“I am anxious to get back to the island to find out how the 
matter turns out,” remarked the man. 

“When do we leave?” asked the woman. 

“Tomorrow night at midnight.” 

78 


“And it will take about twelve hours to reach the island ?” 
asked the woman. 

“Yes,” responded the man. 

“Well, then,” said the woman, “let’s return to the hotel and 
get some sleep.” 

Suiting the action to the word, they arose from the table 
and departed with the detective close in their wake. 

He saw them safely housed. Going into the hotel, he 
casually went up to the office and casually looked over the reg¬ 
ister. Running down the page, he at last came to the names 
of J. C. Burbank and wife, Jacksonville, Fla. 

These were the only names of man and wife on the register. 
After finding this out, he hastened back to the hotel where the 
Commodore was stopping and going to the hotel phone called 
up his room and succeeded in getting him to the phone. Be¬ 
ing informed who was calling, the Commodore invited him up 
to his room, No. 217. 

The Commodore stood at his door, awaiting the arrival of 
the detective. He was almost rude in his reception. He 
pushed him into the room and closing the door, locked it. 

“Well, hurry up and tell me what you know? As I know 
you have something of importance to tell me.” 

“Let me get my breath, won’t you? The elevator was out 
of commission at this hour of the night and I had to walk up 
two flights of stairs and I am almost winded,” replied the de¬ 
tective. 

“I have the whole plot in a nut shell,” replied the detec¬ 
tive. He then proceeded to tell him what the reader already 
knows and also the additional knowledge that Frank Butler 
was in prison on St. Thomas Island. It was here that block¬ 
ade runners were fitted out during the civil war and was here 
without question, where the German raiders and submarines 
had headquarters. 

After this information was given, the Commodore asked 
him, “what his plan of action was to be?” 

“My idea is that you go with all your fleet except one de- 
troyer to St. Thomas and that you steam out tonight or before 
day break and surround the island with your ships to prevent 

79 


the escape of any in boats from the island. Keep one de¬ 
stroyer back to follow Burbank’s yacht,” answered the sleuth. 

“Your plan is alright and I will carry out the plan, but 
upon what boat are you going?” asked the Commodore. 

“I will come in the destroyer that is to follow Burbank,” 
replied the sleuth. 

“But I want you to let me have the three young men who 
are acting aides, but have them dress in their civilian suits and 
give them instructions to report to me for orders. I also want 
you to give orders to the commander of the destroyer that is 
left behind to follow the yacht to follow my instructions,” said 
the detective. 

“It shall be as you direct,” replied the Commodore. With 
this the interview was over as day was fast approaching, and 
the detective took his departure and went to the hotel where 
Burbank and his wife were stopping and there awaited the 
coming of the three aides. The detective secured a room and 
left orders, if any one called to see him to send him up to his 
room. 

Shortly afterwards they made their appearance. One, Was 
sent out to the wharf to see if he could discover the Burbank 
yacht. The other two were to stay around the hotel to watch 
matters. 

Along about eight o’clock in the morning Burbank and 
wife entered the dining room. The detective entered shortly 
after them and took a table next to them. In a short time one 
of the aides came in and took a seat at a table on the other side 
of the Burbanks. Not long after his entrance the second aide 
came in and took a seat in front of them, so that the Burbanks 
were almost hemmed in on three sides. This was done so that 
none of their conversation could escape all three of the sleuths. 
If one was not able to catch what they said it was quite obvious 
that some one of them might get the thread of their talk. 

During the meal, Burbank told his wife, he would go down 
to the boat and see how the land lay, after breakfast. This 
was the opening that our detective was wanting. He had one 
of his aides shadow Burbank all the time he was out, while he 

30 


and the other aide remained in the lobby and on the veranda 
of the hotel. 

They had not been waiting over an hour, until the aide, 
who had been dispatched to the wharf made his appearance 
and reported that he had found where the yacht was anchor¬ 
ed. And that she was already for flight on a minutes’ notice. 
He had engaged the skipper of the yacht in conversation, (who 
was well known to him, as he was an escaped prisoner from 
the United States.) The skipper recognized him also. The 
aide told him, he meant him no harm, but he had got to do as 
he requested or else, he would be arrested and taken back to 
the United States for trial. Now I want to know who these 
people are? also where they are headed for, and when. Now, 
there is a fleet of U. S. warships right close here and I mean 
business. We are almost positive that this man Burbank and 
the woman, he calls his wife are German spies and we want 
to know their game. If you value your safety, you will answer 
my questions truthfully as well as you know, if you do this, I 
will guarantee you your liberty.” 

“Well, you know tht I was always considered to be a man 
of my word, no matter how crooked I was in other matters,” 
said the skipper. 

“Yes, I know that, and that is the reason I made you the 
proposition,” remarked the aide. 

“Yes, they are German spies and their headquarters are at 
St. Thomas.” 

“Have they an American prisoner there?” asked the aide. 

“Yes, he has been held there in prison about a month. They 
drugged him in New York and brought him upon the ship that 
had the gas ingredients, but they are no good to them without 
knowing how to mix them and they know that the American 
is the inventor and they are holding him as a prisoner until 
such a time that he will give up the formula.” 

“When are you going back to the island?” asked the sleuth. 

“I can’t just tell you as I have not received my orders as 
yet. Hist, get out of sight, there comes Burbank now, and 
there is someone shadowing him, if I mistake not,” said the 
skipper. 


81 


The aide hastily got out of sight, and he overheard Bur¬ 
bank tell the skipper to be ready to steam out of the harbor 
within an hour, as the American fleet had left and gone south, 
so there was nothing to fear from that source. 

After telling him this, he told him he was going back to the 
hotel and pack up, preparatory to sailing. 

After he had gone, the aide told him that he wanted him 
to sail slowly out of the harbor and after he had gotten out to 
put on steam for about an hour and crowd the yacht to its full 
capacity. Then I want you to doctor the engine so she will 
have to slow up and go very slowly. Our destroyer is not as 
fast a boat as yours. But when you slow up, it will give us a 
chance to catch up and overhaul you. When the signal is 
given to hoist your colors run up your German flag. Our boat 
will run up the Union Jack and if anything is said, why you 
did not know that it was the Union Jack, but you mistook it 
for a German Jack. Your duty then ends, as far as I am con¬ 
cerned, but rest assured you will not be given away.” 

Soon after the aide came in, Burbank came rushing into 
the hotel, paid his bill and told the clerk that they were leav¬ 
ing. 

The clerk asked him, “if he had not suddenly changed his 
mind.” 

“Yes, I received word to return at once and instead of leav¬ 
ing tonight, we will go as soon as we can get to the wharf. I 
suppose Mrs. Burbank is in her room?” 

“No, she is out on the veranda.” 

A sleuth has been shadowing her all the time she has been 
out there. Burbank went to her at once and in a low tone, 
told her, that she must go up and get her things packed as they 
were to leave as soon as as possible. That the Yankee fleet 
had just steamed away out of the harbor, taking a southerly 
course and that they could get to St. Thomas without any dan¬ 
ger of suspicion being thought of them. 

This conversation was reported to the detective and he or 
dered the three aides to go to the destroyer and get ready to 
follow the yacht and to await his coming. 

82 


CHAPTER XVIII. 

We must now return to Frank Butler and Mamie Simmons, 
whom we left together in the dead of night and in the utter 
darkness of a chamber in the prison. 

As the reader will remember that she declared it was im¬ 
possible for her to repass through the hole in the wall and an 
agreement had been entered into by them that she should re¬ 
main there until daylight when they would enlarge the open¬ 
ing so that she could pass through into her own apartment. 

The moment that Frank saw that it was almost necessary 
for her to remain with him until dawn, he was equal to the 
occasion and as befits a gentleman, in his conduct towards a 
female companion, offered her his counch as a. place to rest 
upon and he would wrap himself up in his coat and repose in 
the armchair near the windows. 

Acting upon this he accordingly enveloped himself in his 
coat and threw himself in the chair and silence reigned there 
for a few minutes. 

“Is this not a most romantic and sigular adventure ?” said 
Mamie, at length, in that low, tremulous, and half-plaintive 
voice which is ofttimes woman's most dangerous weapon- in¬ 
asmuch as it steals insidiously into that heart from which the 
more boldly played artillery of other charms has innoculously 
rebounded. 

“It is one of those cases which are more frequently met 
with in novels than in real life,” answered Frank, sorry in his 
heart that the silence had been broken, and at the same time, 
he thought the young lady’s voice had undergone a change 
since she had last spoken. Indeed, a vague and undefined sus¬ 
picion stole gradually into his breast that this voice, as he last 
heard it, was not altogether unknown to him. 

“What would the world think if it knew of this adven¬ 
ture?” continued Mamie, her voice appearing as if it were 

83 


passing from a feigned to a now more natural tone, as if she 
forgot she had been disguising it. 

“The world will never know from my lips anything that 
might be disagreeable or unpleasant,” replied Frank. But he 
became more suspicious every minute. 

He could not tell as he had ever heard the voice before, but 
he was satisfied that it was undergoing a change from an as¬ 
sumed melody to its natural one. 

“Ah you do not think, Mr. Butler,” observed Mamie, her 
voice becoming more tremulous, as if vibrating with some 
strong feeling or growing passion, “you do not think that the 
world would give us credit for being such a good girl and boy 
as we really are? You fancy that the world, like a too sus¬ 
picious parent, would be certain to believe that we have been 
naughty children?” 

“Heavens, Miss Simmons,” exclaimed Frank, shocked be¬ 
yond expression at her indelicate remark and speaking with 
displeasure, “let us not talk in this strain. Indeed, unless you 
compose yourself and go to sleep we will not be in fit shape to 
accomplish all we wish to tomorrow night.” 

“It is impossible to sleep with a strong current of air com¬ 
ing through this aperture,” remarked Mamie; and Frank could 
hear by the elastic bound of her feet alighting upon the floor 
that she had leaped from the couch. 

“Permit me to do my best to stop up that opening,” he said, 
arising from his seat and slowly advancing through the dark¬ 
ness toward the recess. 

“Perhaps I can replace the panel of the wainscoting in such 
a manner as to protect you from the draft.” 

“I do not believe it possible, said Mamie, in a tone which 
evidently came from lips that were pouting with subdued ill- 
humor at the moment. 

“Then let us light a light at any risk—” 

“Ah, doubtless for you to see my face, now that you know 
the veil is off,” she cried with a merry laugh. 

“I can assure you Miss Simmons, that I have no impertinent 
curiosity of such a nature,” answered Frank, in a voice coldly 
expressive of displeasure. 


84 


“Oh, no, no,” ejaculated Mamie, her humor suddenly 
changing again, and this time into bitterness which she did not 
attempt to conceal, “you have no curiosity of any kind Mr. But¬ 
ler; your heart is ice—ice to the very core. I declare that it is 
almost an insult to a young and beautiful woman, as I am, that 
you have not spoken to me a single word such as young gentle¬ 
men do speak to young ladies. There—you know what I 
mean—but I can not explain myself any better. At all events 
I feel slighted, neglected. Why don’t you answer me, sir?” 
she exclaimed, with a petulance almost amounting to rage as 
she stamped her foot upon the floor. 

“Heavens, what a little demoness,” thought Frank within 
himself; but in a cold and apparently unmoved manner, he 
said, Miss Simmons, you thanked me just now for brotherly 
kindness which, as you were pleased to observe, I manifested 
toward you when you felt sick, and therefore you will perceive 
the inconsistency of at present accussing me of deliberately 
slighting you.” 

“Answer me one question, sir,” exclaimed Mamie, hastily 
and impetuously; “do you wish to escape hence?” 

“Most assuredly,” answered Frank. “But wherefore a 
question so singular under the circumstances?” 

“Because you can not escape without my assistance,” re¬ 
turned Mamie, “and that assistance you are not so certain of 
having as you were just now.” 

“Good Heavens,” exclaimed Frank, bewildered and chag¬ 
rined; “is it possible that I have really offended you?” 

“I have already told you,” said Mamie, in a voice that 
again became low, deep and tremulous,—but whether with 
real or affected emotion Frank knew not,—“I have already 
told you tht men of the highest rank and most brilliant posi¬ 
tion have beseiged me with their overture, some on honorable 
terms, others upon dishonorable, and while I have spurned the 
latter, I have steadily refused the former. But wherefore? 
Because in my own heart I had already conjured up the ideal 
image of such a being as alone could win my love. To that 
idealism have I clung; it has been to me a dream and a wor¬ 
ship, until at last I have felt that my very happiness depend- 

85 


ed upon its realization. I have pondered and pondered upon 
that image until I have led myself, as it were, to become des¬ 
perately enamored of it, and I have vowed that never, never, 
would I bestow my affections upon any one who did not real¬ 
ize in his person and his mind all that was beautiful, attractive 
and endearing in that creation of my fancy. Conceive, then, 
my astonishment and my delight when on passing ere now into 
this chamber I beheld in you the personification of that delic¬ 
ious idealism.” 

“Miss Simmons, not another word in this strain, I conjure 
you, I command you,” cried Butler, in a tone but too plainly 
indicative of outraged feeling. 

“Mr. Butler,” interrupted Mamie, suddenly assuming a 
tone of decision, “I see that it is now necessary we should thor¬ 
oughly understand each other; for you are more flinty-heart¬ 
ed than I had at first imagined.” 

“Yes, let us understand each other,” said Frank, since it 
would seem that we had mistaken each other’s character,—I, 
in believing that you were a young lady of discretion as well as 
magnanimity, and you in supposing that I am unmindful of 
my duty alike to you and myself.” 

“Oh, that we might have light,” exclaimed Mamie, sar¬ 
castically, “so that I might see your countenance flushing with 
the virtuous indignation that is doubtless now reddening it.” 

“But for the explanations?” said Frank, impetuously. 

“They will soon be given, so far as I am concerned,” an¬ 
swered Mamie. 

“Anxious and longing as I have been to effect my escape 
hence, yet that aspiration has now become secondary indeed 
to another hope which I have conceived, and on the fulfillment 
of which the former shall even be made to depend. For I am 
self-willed, Mr. Butler, yes, self-willed and headstrong as I am 
petulant and impetuous; and therefore you must know, in one 
word, that I love you, and that if you scorn this love of mine it 
shall turn to the bitterest hatred.” 

-Miss Simmons,” observed Frank, coldly indignant, “you 
will provoke me to say things to which I should be sorry to 
give utterance.” 


86 


“Mr. Butler, if you mean war to the death, then war let it 
be,” cried Miss Simmons; “but in that case, remember that I 
shall not hesitate to sacrifice myself in order to be revenged 
upon you. I will confess to the authorities about all the prep¬ 
arations that have been made for our escape—” 

“Foolish young woman, you will draw down a terrible pun¬ 
ishment upon yourself,” ejaculated Frank. “You will per¬ 
haps be moved to another and far more dreadful prison.” 

“What of all that, so long as I gratify my revenge?” ex¬ 
claimed Mamie. 

“It is for you to decide whether you will provoke that ven¬ 
geance—whether you will continue to scorn, slight and even 
insult me, or whether you will consent to gratify this whim I 
have conceived by becoming my lover for a week, a day, or 
only an hour, as you may choose. Oh, Mr. Butler, do not re¬ 
main thus hard-hearted. Remember that I am beautiful, very 
beautiful, and the world will know naught of what takes place 
between us in an hour of yielding tenderness.” 


87 


CHAPTER XIX. 

Burbank and his wife made hasty preparations and depart¬ 
ed for the wharf, where their yacht was anchored. They im¬ 
mediately embarked and gave the skipper orders to make 
haste for St. Thomas. The yacht being already steamed up, 
it was but a few minutes ere she was on her way headed for 
the island. 

The yacht did not make great speed going out of the har¬ 
bor but as soon as she cleared the sailing craft she put on full 
steam. She cut the waves at high speed. 

The destroyer, in the meantime, being steamed up and 
ready to sail at a minutes’ notice followed her and kept her in 
sight for a while, but the yacht’s speed was more than a match 
for the destroyer and soon she was out of sight of the de¬ 
stroyer. 

As per arrangement the skipper put the engine on the 
blink and she commenced to lose speed, he merely disarranged 
something about the engine’s machinery that caused her to 
go slow. 

About thirty miles out of the harbor, the destroyer espied 
the yacht from her lookout. Gradually the destroyer came in 
hailing distance, and called for signals from the yacht. The 
destroyer, in the meantime, had hoisted an Union Jack. The 
skipper, whether intentionally or not, ran up a German flag. 
This caused the destroyer to give her a signal to stop, which 
she did. When the destroyer came up, she made fast to the 
yacht and the commodore and his taff boarded the yacht. 

“I would like to see the commander of this yacht,” said the 
commodore. 

When he made his appearance, he said: “I see you are 
sailing under the German flag? Who have you on board? 
and what is their mission and where are you going?” 

88 


“I will produce the parties, whose orders I am under and 
they can speak for themselves,” replied the skipper. 

Going to the cabin, he informed Burank and wife that they 
were wanted on deck. They were somewhat ‘fussed’ but they 
put up a good front and went above. When they came on 
deck they were presented to the commodore, by the skipper. 
“This is Mr. and Mrs. Burbank, under whose orders I am,” 
said he. 

“I see, you are sailing under a German flag?” but 
you are Americans. Please explain, how it is?” said the 
commodore. 

“We are on a pleasure trip and have been visiting Cuba 
and are now going to Nasau,” replied Burbank. 

“Do you not know that it is a very dangerous escapade to 
be sailing around here, in time of war? when the United States 
and Germany are fighting?” asked the commodore. 

“Yes, we knew that, but did not anticipate any trouble 
around here on account of that,” answered Burbank. 

“Being Americans and in American territory, why use the 
German flag? Are you ashamed of Old Glory?” said the 
commodore. 

“We took you for a German raider,” is the reason answer¬ 
ed Burbank. 

“Let me see your papers of clearance and your credentials 
to prove your statements, replied the commodore. 

Going down to the cabin, he was accompanied by the com¬ 
modore, as the latter did not propose that he should destroy 
any compromising papers. 

While this was taking place the three aides made their ap¬ 
pearance upon the yacht. As Mr. Burbank caught sight of 
them, she fainted, and had not come to when Burbank and 
the commodore came up from the cabin. 

Burbank’s papers did not satisfy the commodore and they 
went back on deck. As Burbank discovered the condition 
that his consort was in, consternation seized him, but still he 
tried to brazen it through. 

“My wife is subject to fainting spells, as she is high tem¬ 
pered and easily unstrung and becomes very nervous at times. 

89 


However, it is only temporary and she will soon recover. If 
you will please excuse me I will take her below and place her 
on a couch and we will continue our investigation.” 

”1 think you will be nervous, too, if you will just take a look 
at those three men over there, “remarked the commodore, as 
he pointed to his three aides. “But if that does not disturb 
your equilibrium, just cast your eye over at the other side, and 
perhaps you may see a familiar figure and a fact that is not 
unknown to you,” remarked the commodore. 

“Now, Slippery Joe, you have about run your race. We 
know you and your companion and we have been on your trail 
for some time. Now what we want is for you to come clean of 
the whole business and tell us about the whole plot. If you 
do, you and your companion will get off easier than otherwise, 
said the commodore. 

“Well, I will not try and stall any more. You have us 
dead to rights. And we might as well cough up, I suppose as 
not,” answered Slippery Joe, alias Mr. Burbank. 

“Come clean, if you expect any mercy from us,” said the 
commodore. 

“Well, to begin with, I belong to a gang of German anarch¬ 
ists in New York. My wife—” 

“How long has Teggy Mason’ been your wife?” interrupt¬ 
ed the detective. 

“Well, she passes as my wife, anyway,” answered Slippery 
Joe. 

Peggy knows something of our schemes, but she is not a 
full fledged member. The gang had spies at Hopewell and 
knew that Frank Butler had invented a new gas, that was far 
superior to that in use and the Germans were determined to 
get hold of the formula. They also knew that a cargo had 
been placed on board of the Shamrock of the ingredients of 
the gas and that Frank Butler was to be a passenger on board 
the same ship. 

We waylaid him in New York as he was getting ready to 
go on board the ship. Our plans miscarried, in so far, that we 
drugged him too heavy and we could not bring him too enough 
to get him to give up the formula. He was to have been made 


90 


way with in New York, had we gotten the formula out of him 
there, but fortunately for him, he was too heavily drugged and 
his life was saved for the present, at least. A girl was to have 
enticed him to his death—” 

“Her name was Phoebe Perkins/’ interrupted the detec¬ 
tive. 

“I just mention this to refresh your memory,” said the 
sleuth. 

“We were in a quandary what to do, so Peggy and myself 
and Mr. and Mrs. Simmons—” “you mean ‘Baldy Strong’ and 
the girl, he abducted from up state, broke in the detective. 

“I see you know all about the matter and it will be useless 
for me to tell the rest,” said Slippery Joe. 

“Go ahead,” said the commodore, “I like your romance of 
crime.” 

“'We were sent on board the Shamrock, ostensibly as But¬ 
ler’s special friends and attendants, when he was carried on 
board the ship. 

We were out several days and our boat was captured by a 
German raider and both boats were headed for St. Thomas. 

Mrs. Simmons, the girl from up-state, was Butler’s nurse, 
but he was not in condition to recognize her, at least that is my 
opinion. She was forced to do the bidding of Simmons, who 
posed as her husband. She was made to try and get the se¬ 
cret formula of the gas from him, but she did not succeed. 

When we arrived at St. Thomas, Butler was placed in 
prison, but he was given good attention and even had luxuries 
in his confinement. We were bound to get the formula and 
we conjured up every conceivable scheme we possibly could 
think of but the most feasible appeared to us, was to have 
Mamie Simmons, ostensibly a prisoner in ah adjoining room, 
and have her dig her way to freedom through his cell. After 
getting into his room, in the darkness of the night by her wiles 
succeed in getting the formula. 

However, I want to say a word for Mamie. She is innocent 
of any wrong doing of her own free will, but she has been 
forced to do as she has done on the pain of death,” said Slip¬ 
pery Joe. 


91 


“Is Butler imprisoned now on the island ?” asked the de¬ 
tective. 

“Yes,” answered Joe. 

“Please give us the location, so we can find it easily,” re¬ 
marked the detective. 

This he did. 

The yacht was put in charge of some of the destroyer’s men 
and it steamed ahead of the warship until they came in the vi¬ 
cinity of the island. 

The yacht’s crew and the Burbanks had been transferred 
to the destroyer. 


92 


CHAPTER XX 

“Temptress, who art thou?” exclaimed Frank, now be¬ 
coming angry and almost enraged. “Thy voice is familiar to 
me; I am certain I have heard it before—“Yes,” interrupted 
Mamie, in a low voice; “and I have seen you before and I 
know more of you than thou thinkest, and I could breathe in 
thy ear the name of a young lady, that would make you sit up 
and take notice,” replied Mamie. 

“Then who art thou? Tell me who thou art,” exclaimed 
Frank, becoming more and more excited; “for there is some¬ 
thin so strange, so mysterious in all this.” 

“Stay, let me whisper a name in your ear,” said Mamie, 
“and then you will see I know a great deal about you.” 

“Speak aloud Miss Simmons,” cried Frank, who perceived 
by the rustling of her dress that she was approaching him 
through the pitchy darkness which prevailed. 

“Ah, you are afraid of me” she exclaimed scornfully. “Oh, 
what sickly sentimentalism, what a maudlin affection of virtue 
is all this. Even the beauteous Belle Sanford, herself,” she 
continued with a marked accentuation upon a name which 
made Frank start suddenly, “could scarce think well of one 
who seems not to be made of flesh and blood.” 

“You have alluded to a lady,” said Butler, “whose example 
it were well, Miss Simmons, if yotr would follow. But let me 
beseech you to put an end to all this junk, it is not only being 
painful, but humiliating and ridiculous.” 

There was a dead silence of nearly a minute, and then the 
woman’s voice suddenly vibrated upon Frank’s ear, exclaim¬ 
ing, “Oh, I love you, 1 love you/’ and the next instant he 
heard her come bounding toward him like a serpent flinging 
its coils through the utter darkness at some object which a 
mysterious instinct impelled it to seize upon, so that ere Frank 

93 


had leisure to step back even a couple of paces, he was clasp¬ 
ed in the arms of his midnight companion. 

Violent was that embrace, as if the young woman’s impas¬ 
sioned nature were wrought up to a frenzied pitch. 

The pulump white arms were thrown so suddenly around 
his neck and held him in so firm a clasp, and the lips of the 
temptress were instantaneously glued to his own with so burn¬ 
ing an intenseness, that it seemed as if it were impossible for 
him to escape from the empire of such an Amazonian assail¬ 
ant. But, immediately recovering his presence of mind, he 
endeavored to disengage himself from her embrace, in which, 
however, she held him with all the greater tenacity. He used 
a little more violence, and she clung to him with the force of 
despertion. 

“Miss Simmons, take care, I shall do you mischief,” cried 
Frank. 

“You would not ill-use a woman,” replied Mamie; and she 
covered his face with frantic kisses, as if hurried away by the 
torrent of raging passions which she could not control. 

“By Heaven, this is intolerable,” cried Frank. “O, shame¬ 
less young woman.” 

“Ah, revile, abuse me as you will,” said Mamie, with a 
triumphant tone; “but I will either perish or compel you to 
fall vanquished into the arms of my consummated desires.” 

“You force me to extremes,” cried Frank, now seizing both 
her arms and somewhat violently disengaging them from his 
neck. 

Mamie struggled desperately to retain her hold, and Frank 
could hear her gasping and moaning with rage, like a sub¬ 
dued tigress, when she found herself baffled and defeated in 
the combat. But be it understood that he exhibited not the 
slightest unnecessary violence toward her; he merely put forth 
his strength to a sufficient degree to unlock her arms from his 
neck. The struggle was nevertheless a difficult cne, inasmuch 
as it took place in the depth of a pitchy darkness, and it was 
therefore no fault of Frank’s if Mamie, suddenly tripping over 
a rug, fell heavily upon the floor, where she remained sense¬ 
less. 


94 


For a few moments Frank though deeply greived at this in¬ 
cident, fancied that her immovability and silence were only a 
pretence, but finding that she continued thus still and speech¬ 
less, he stooped down and laid hand upon her forehead. It 
was cold, and there was a clammy perspiration upon it. Be¬ 
ginning to be seriously alarmed, he placed his hand upon her 
heart, and felt that though it beat, the pulsation was never¬ 
theless slow and feeble. A mortal terror now seized him, for 
he feared that she might be in reality seriously injured and 
perhaps about to die, and for a few instants he felt so bewild¬ 
ered as scarcely to know what course to pursue. 

However, he lighted a candle and held it over her counten¬ 
ance and an ejaculation escaped him. Heavens, was it possi¬ 
ble. His suspicion was confirmed. But as he thus emitted 
the words, she opened her eyes and looked up to him and then 
gave vent to a cry of almost despair. This incident showed 
Frank that she was no one else than the woman, who had act¬ 
ed as nurse on the boat to him and who claimed to be the wife 
of a companion, who was with her. 

“You know me?” said Mamie. 

“Indeed, I do. But it is a mystery to me why you have 
acted toward me as you have. What incentive have you for 
so doing?” asked Frank. 

“Well, sit down, and I will act like a lady. Please forgive 
me, for it was a frame up, my escape,” said Mamie. 

“Now, if you can trust me, and you will have no reason to 
do otherwise and I will explain everything. I am not the de¬ 
praved person you may think, still I can blame you for having 
a bad opinion of me. I was merely acting a part and my feel¬ 
ings got the better of me, as I admire you as a perfect gentle¬ 
man. I have learned to respect you. If a man was ever 
tempted and not fallen, you are the man. But to my story. 

I was abducted from up-state in New York. My people 
are respectable and well to do. I was abducted from my 
home. The man, you saw me with was the man, who tempted 
me. He came to our town and acted the part of a wealthy 
man, who was looking up a location. I met him at a church 
fair. He called several times to see me and finally invited me 

95 


out for an auto ride and carried me to New York against my 
wishes. It was the same old story of numerous other girls. 

I was not long in finding out that he was a German spy and 
belonged to a gang of cut-throats, but I was under a spell and 
I was also watched so that I could not escape. When you 
were drugged, word was sent to us and to a man and woman, 
who go by the name of Burbank to take the boat that you was 
carried on, drugged. If they had gotten the secret formula 
cut of you, before you were insensible, they would have killed 
you. In fact there was a young girl selected to kill you, 
Phoebe Perkins, but she got cold feet and ran away. 

When you were placed upon the boat, I was delegated to 
act as nurse to you and try and get your formula from you. 
And that was the scheme, of the escape. The conspirators 
thought if I got the best of you, that you would easily give up 
the formula. Now that is the whole scheme. But believe me 
or not, Frank, I have learned to respect you and I do hope that 
you will forgive me for my actions.” 

“Your story is simply astounding Miss Simmons, and I act¬ 
ually do believe you/’ remarked Frank. 

“But what I want to know is, how are we going to escape?” 

“I dont know—” just then there was a loud report of guns 
from two sides of the island. 


CHAPTER XXI 

The destroyer and the yacht proceeded on to St. Thomas, 
and as they approached the island, they perceived that it was 
practically surrounded by the fleet, although miles distant 
from it. Our friends made their way to the flag ship and had 
a conference with the commodore in charge. 

He was given the information about everything that had 
taken place since he had left Cuba. He learned of the cap¬ 
ture of the alleged Burbank and his scheming wife, and in fact 
gave them the whole plot as told by Burbank. 

He learned for the first time of the whereabouts of Frank 
Butler and how he had made his disappearance and that he 
was a prisoner upon the island. 

“Our first thing to do is to prevent the escape of any one 
from the island and in order to do this we will have to draw 
the fleet in closer and to surround the island, in the closest 
manner possible.” 

“But the island belongs to a European country,” said the 
captain of the destroyer. 

“I know that, but it is one of the allies,” replied the com¬ 
modore. 

“We may, perhaps have to bombard it, but, it will be ex¬ 
cusable as it is infested by the enemy,” remarked the commo¬ 
dore. 

Orders were signaled the other ships of the fleet to draw 
in closer to the island and to prepare for bombardment. 

A salute was ordered by the commodore. This apparent¬ 
ly had no effect. He then ordered a shot fired at an isolated 
building. When the island authorities saw the building 
wrecked they came to their senses and realized that the Amer¬ 
icans meant business, they ran up a flag of truce. 


97 


One of the destroyers were sent into the harbor and the 
members of its crew found the islanders very much wrought 
up about what they called a high-handed outrage upon a 
friendly ally. 

“Yes, that maybe so, but you have placed yourselves with¬ 
out the pale of friendship by assisting an enemy in giving them 
a rendezvous. Where are they? Speak up, at once, with no 
subterfuge,” said the captain of the destroyer. 

“We have no Germans here,” replied the island official. 

“Officer, arrest him. We will soon find out whether there 
are any Germans or German spies here, and methinks our 
'friend’ here will be perfectly willing to tell us all the particu¬ 
lars,” remarked the captain. 

As the officer stepped up to arrest the island official, he 
said, “Hold, I will tell all and conceal nothing.” 

“Well, I thought you would come to your senses very soon,” 
replied the captain. 

The islander said, ’’that there were a number of German 
sympathizers there, and that upon the report of the guns they 
had hied themselves to the prison—” “Yes, they know their 
proper place, I suppose,” interrupted the captain. Is that 
where Frank Butler is imprisoned?” 

“Yes,” replied the islander. 

“Take us there at once.” 

The island official lead the way and as they approached 
the building, they discovered a crowd of people, but were un¬ 
observed by them, as yet. 

“Surround the building with your men, lieutenant, and 
don’t let a single person escape, even if you have to kill some 
of them. Dont’t hesitate to shoot if any one is trying to es¬ 
cape. Make an example of him and that will prevent any cf 
the rest in trying the same thing,” said the captain. 

Quietly the building was surrounded ere any of the enemy 
was aware of what was taking place. When the signal was 
given by the lieutenant that they had perfected their cordcn, 
the captain came out in sight of the crowd and ordered them to 
surrender. They were amazed and almost stunned at first, 
then they commenced to look around for means of escape. 

98 


“There is no use for you people to try to escape as the place 
is surrounded by marines and the island is surrounded by a 
fleet of American warships. Where is Frank Butler? And 
who is your captain or head man here?” asked the American 
captain. 

No one spoke. “You certainly have some one who is au¬ 
thority here. If you have not, I will arrest you all as German 
spies and you all know what that means. Men arrest them 
and search them and take all guns, papers and anything that 
may incriminate them. And you, Mr. Island Official, conduct 
me to the place where Frank Butler is imprisoned. I also 
want you to tell me where Simmons and his wife are,” said the 
captain. 

The prisoners were given over to the marines and they 
were all marched down to where the destroyer was anchored, 
and a signal was given for the commodore to come in. 

When the flagship steamed into the harbor, the prisoners 
were ordered on board the warship. 

The commodore was not long in finding out who was the 
king-pin of the outfit, as he took one of the men to one side and 
told him, if he wanted to save his skin, he would answer his 
questions. The man readily agreed to tell all he knew. Af¬ 
ter finding out, who was the man in authority of the gang from 
him, he allowed him to slip in among the rest unnoticed by any 
of them. 

The commodore went into the cabin among the prisoners 
and asked Captain Benson to step forward. No one made a 
move, but the commodore noticed that all eyes were centered 
upon the man he wanted. “Now, I shall call out Captain Ben¬ 
son once.more, andjt would be better for him to step out, and 
still no one came forward. The commodore, then ordered one 
of the lieutenants to go and get that man,” as he pointed him 
out. The officer did as told, however, the man offered some 
little resistance and the officer handled him quiet roughly. 

The commodore asked him as he came before him, why he 
did not acknowledge who he was? Surely, you did not think 
we were such chumps as not to find out, did you Possi¬ 
bly, you thought all your spies were bound by their iron-clad 

99 


oath and that they would not squeal on you.” 

When he said spies, there was a change upon the counten¬ 
ance of Benson and a sort of pallor was present upon the faces 
of all the rest of the crowd. 

“Where is the American ship that was captured? And 
what have you done with Frank Butler?” Just then there 
was a commotion out on the deck and shortly a man was push¬ 
ed within the room folowed up by Frank Butler and a woman. 
The officer, who brought them in touched his cap and said: 

“Commodore, this is the man Simmons and the woman is 
his supposed wife, but she is not.” 

“Yes, I have heard of them,” remarked the Commodore. 

“Commodore” said Butler,” can I have a word with you in 
private?” 

“Surely, my boy,” answered he. 

Frank and Commodore went out on the deck and the form¬ 
er told him of his experience with Mamie Simmons in a very 
few words. 

“How that she was a daughter of a prominent New Yorker 
and had been abducted from her home by Simmons and made 
to comply with his wishes under a threat of death if she did 
not do as he said, thus being under duress. Another thing 
she was kept in close confinement until she was put aboard the 
steamer that carried her to St. Thomas. She, thus was not 
strictly to blame for her actions, although technically guilty. 
She desired to get away from the gang but she had no oppor¬ 
tunity. She does not wish to go back home at present but 
wants to go across the seas and become a nurse in the Ameri¬ 
can army and to try to attone for her former actions and sins 
against the government, while with this anarchistic gang. 

Now, Commodore, can’t you arrange to have her taken 
overseas and placed in a hospital and thus be of service to our 
flag? I believe her to be sincere, and I positively know that 
she is truly repentant of the things she has been coerced to do.” 

“Well, my boy, you are a good advocate and what you have 
said appeals to me, and I think the matter can be arranged 
along the lines you have suggested. She will be separated, at 
once from the gang, as I will see to it, that she is properly 

100 


cared for,” remarked the Commodore. 

One of the destroyers was commissioned to take the Ger¬ 
man spies to New York and a sealed letter was given to the 
captain of the ship to deliver to the Secretary of the Navy. 

This despicable horde of humanity, with the exception of 
Mamie, was loaded onto the destroyer and it soon steamed 
away from St. Thomas, destined for New York. 


CHAPTER XXII 

The town of Charlotte, Amelia was beautiful and pictur¬ 
esque. It had one of the finest harbors in the West Indies, 
deep enough to float the largest warships, with shipyards and 
dry docks and repair shops. Looking from the deck of a ves¬ 
sel as she came into the harbor it was a strikingly beautiful 
picture, formed by three spurs of mountains covered with the 
greenest of tropical foliage. From the edge of the dancing 
blue waves the town itself arose on the hills, presenting an en¬ 
trancing panorama. 

The walls of the houses were mostly of a dazzling white¬ 
ness, though some were yellow, others gray, orange and blue. 
But the roofs were all of a generous bright red, which showed 
up very effectively among the clumps of green trees. Indeed, 
the town seemed to be one of gaily tinted villas and palaces. 
There were no factories, no slums. Nature had provided 
against that and man had not violated the provision. 

The people were mostly negroes, still there was a fair 
sprinkling of whites. English is the language mostly spoken. 

As we remarked the harbor was a fine one and it was large, 
so that a ship could be stored away and not easily found. 

Frank Butler told the Commodore that he was sure that the 
American ship that had been captured was in the harbor, but 
he thought that it had been repainted, possibly. 

The Commodore said that a thorough search would be 
made of the harbor at once. . The town was duly picketed 
with marines and the remaining ships were guarding the en¬ 
trance of the harbor. 

A search was made of the harbor and sure enough the 
American ship was concealed a way back in the harbor and 
the ship had been repainted and renamed. She was also load¬ 
ed with the gas ingredients the same as when she left the 


102 


United States. 

In the letter to the Secretary of the Navy, the Commodore 
advised him to send Col. DuPont down to the island as soon as 
possible. 

In about fifteen days a squadron of ships were discovered 
approaching the island from the North. Upon close inspec¬ 
tion it was discovered that they were Americans. A salute 
was fired from the approaching fleet and an answer given back 
from the island. 

It was not long until the fleet steamed into the harbor. 

Col. DuPont was among the passengers. He hunted up 
Frank the first thing and was overjoyed to see him. 

Explanations were made and orders were given to proceed 
across the seas to England and take the American freighter, 
loaded with the gas along. 

Col. DuPont told Frank that he had better accompany the 
fleet as he would be needed to instruct the Americans in mix¬ 
ing the ingredients for making the gas. That after he had 
done this, he should return back to America. 

In the meantime, I will inform your good friends in Sumner 
that you are all O. K., and will be home ere long, as you will 
have to appear as a witness in trial of the spies. 

The fleet sailed for England with the exception of several 
destroyers that were left to guard the island and also one was 
sent back to New York with Col. DuPont. 

Mamie sailed with the fleet to England. She was quar¬ 
tered on the flagship. 

All these proceedings were transacted with so much se¬ 
crecy that no one outside of the ones directly interested knew 
ought about them. 

Mamie was given a place in a French hospital where we 
will leave her for the present. Frank spent a couple of months 
in France, when he sailed for America. The German spies 
were all imprisoned in a prison, far removed from any one who 
might be able to learn about them. They were guarded by 
trusted guards and by so doing, a great many of the anarchists 
were rounded up one by one and no one was the wiser about 
how. 


103 


The gang of spies and anarchists that were captured on the 
island, together with those that were rounded up later in New 
York, from information gleamed from the gang were tried by 
the federal authorities and found guilty, were given from five 
years to life in solitary confinement. But, a new idea the 
judge had and he acted upon it, after consulting with the au¬ 
thorities at Washington. They were all deported and sent to 
the American commander on the firing line with instructions 
to have them sent across No-Man’s Land with a flag of truce 
and instructions to the German commander. 

In this letter he was told that the Americans had no farther 
use for this gang of cutthroats and murderers and that they 
had been caught red-handed, tried, convicted and sentenced. 
But upon due consideration, it was thought they would cause 
the Germans more trouble than they had the Americans, and 
for that reason they were returned, but, however, with the in¬ 
junction, that if any of them ever stepped a foot on American 
soil, no matter when, the sentence would be carried out to the 
letter. Farther, the instructions read, that if any more spies 
of theirs were caught, they would be shot as soon as found 
guilty. 

As soon as Frank landed in New York, he repaired to the 
New York office of Col. DuPont. Fortunately, he caught him 
at the office. After the usual greetings, Frank asked the Col¬ 
onel, “What he wanted him to do?” 

“What do you want to do?” asked the Colonel. 

“I want to make a trip down to Sumner and then I want to 
visit my parents in Illinois, whom I have not seen in about a 
year,” answered Frank. 

“I knew that you would want to go to South Carolina,” 
said the Colonel, “but I just wanted to see if you would say so.” 

“Oh, yes, I will have to plead guilty,” said Frank. 

Laying his hand upon Frank’s shoulder, he said: “My 
boy, you are at liberty to do as you desire and on salary, at 
that. I think you have earned a vacation. Take what time is 
necessary, but keep me informed as to your whereabouts, as 
something might come up which would make it imperative 
that I should communicate with you.” 


104 


Calling in his secretary, he whispered something to him. 
The secretary, went into the adjoining room and soon came 
back and handed the Colonel a paper. The Colonel then pro¬ 
ceeded to sign his name to a check. After signing, the Col¬ 
onel handed it to Frank. The latter saw that it was a check 
for his late salary and also for the next two months with ex¬ 
pense money as he was about to place it in his pocket book, 
he discovered another paper, which upon reading, he found it 
to be a check for a $1,000. 

“What’s this second check for,” asked Frank in amaze¬ 
ment. 

“To pay your honeymoon expenses,” said the Colonel with 
a smile. 

“You must be a mind reader Colonel,” said Frank. 

“No, just a close observer of things,” remarked the 
Colonel. 

“Now, Frank, seen the subject has come up, I want to say 
a word, and I am saying it out of regard and friendship to you. 
1 know how the land lays between you and Belle Sanford. 
You can hunt the world over, and you can never find a truer 
girl than Belle Sanford and she fairly worships you, and I 
know that you reciprocate her love. Now, then, what’s the 
matter of going down to Sumner and get a license and getting 
married quietly at the home of Belle without any ostentotion?” 
said the Colonel. 

“Well, Colonel, you have hit the nail squarely on the head, 
that was my intention, if Belle and her parents were agreed to 
it. If the event came off like that, I intended, taking Belle out 
to visit my parents.” 

Frank, shortly after this conversation left the office and 
took the first train to Sumner. 

He telegraphed to Belle that he would be at Sumner on the 
next day’s evening train. 

Imagine, reader, if you can the feelings of joy that animat¬ 
ed Belle upon receiving the telegram. She hastened to her 
mother and danced about as her mother was reading it. “I 

105 


am s8 h&ppy, mother. To think, that he whom we had given 
up for lost', will be here, less than twelve hours. Why, I can’t 

co.ntaifi rhysilf. I can hardly wait,” said Belle. 

'0 sd <g.- 

“Just compose yourself my dear daughter, he can’t get 
here quicker than the train. You can have him all to your¬ 
self, soop,’’ said the mother. 


Thre 'train bringing Frank finally arrived and Belle was 
there to meet him. She watched closely as the people alight¬ 
ed was quite awhile ere she discovered Frank. He 

got off the rear coach. When she did See him, she ran to him 
and m^de a jump at him and threw her arms around his neck 
ancf planned kiss after kiss upon his face. Frank was some¬ 
what embarrassed, but he well knew Belle’s disposition, as 
every one 'elSe did, who were acquainted with her. 

' JShe^Was impulsive and did not stand upon conventionalities 
and no one thought funny of her, but said, “that’s Belle for 
yom’V jn-v 

■ rr She- cbdld hardly leave him alone long enough to look 
afteF his personal baggage. They finally did get to the auto. 

r : £ f• 0 

7 “Well, my old buddy, I am more than delighted to see you 
ah(j hqve you with us again,” said Belle, as they go into the car. 

“J pip } just as glad to be here as you are to have me,” re¬ 
marked Ifyank. 

The most delicious music is dull and vapid in comparison 
witbuftoe^peJody of the lover’s voice when softly syllabling the 
name, oi/the f adored one. Deep, deep into the soul it sinks, not 
with a ^ofqe. that jars upon the tender cords of the heart, but 
gentle and' tender, as the balmy breeze laden with the per¬ 
fume of roses steals upon the strings of an Aeolian harp, 
awakening all the delicious pathos of its murmuring melody. 

Mrs. Sanford greeted Frank with a loving embrace, such 
as a r mother : would give a dearly beloved son, who had been 
away for a long spell. Mr. Sanford was overjoyed at Frank’s 
safeTaitrivaF and a regular love feast was had by the quartette. 

We Will pass over the many things that took place in the 
Sknford hbme. But suffice it to say, that Frank’s request for a 


10 (> 



speedy and a private marriage was acquiesced in by Belle and 
her parents. 

The wedding ceremony was solemnized by their family 
pastor and within a week after Frank’s arrival, he and Belle 
were on their honeymoon trip to the home of Frank’s parents 
out in the ‘succor’ state. 


CHAPTER XXIII 

Their stay at Frank’s parents’ home was one continue 
round of receptions, fetes and feasts and it was prolonged for 
over a month. And his parents were quite loth to let them 
leave. Belle wormed herself into their affections like one of 
their daughters. However, after a little over a month's stay 
Frank told his parents that they would have to be going as he 
had a living to make for two ,now, instead of one. They re¬ 
turned home by the way of Niagara Falls, where Belle had 
never been. They rounded up their six weeks’ honeymoon 
trip by returning to Sumner, where they were very joyfudy 
received by Mr. and Mrs. Sanford. A grand ball was given in 
their honor by their particular admirers, which was attended 
by the notables from far and near. Col. DuPont and wife 
were specially invited guests and they took advantage of the 
invitation. 

The matter of where, they were going to reside was a para¬ 
mount issue with the father and mother of Belle. And also 
what business Frank was to follow. They did not want him 
to keep with the powder people as it was a dangerous business 
and a man working for the company running great risks, es¬ 
pecially was it so in the case of the position that Frank held 
with the companv. Mr. Sanford broached the subject to Col. 
DuPont when he was at the ball and casually mentioned die 
fact, that possibly they could get Frank to resign and that he 
would like to have the Colonel consent to it, if he did tender 
his resignation. The Colonel said he would. 

The subject of their residence had been discussed b ' 
Belle’s parents, while they were on their honeymoon trip. And 
as an inducement, Mrs. Sanford had purchased one of the best 
residences in the city and had it all refitted and refurnished 
and made modern in every respect. The grounds were nicely 

108 


dressed, the old inviting shade trees had had all of their dead 
limbs cut out and a new brick garage had been erected and 
everything put in first class shape. A housekeeper had even 
been engaged and she had had charge of the house for a week 
or more before their return. 

There were two positions that appealed to him as suitable 
for Frank to accept. Col. Sanford was president of the larg¬ 
est bank in the town, and the assistant cashier was going to 
leave as he was to accept the position of cashier in a bank in 
an adjoining town, where a number of his relatives lived, but 
he told them he would stay until they secured some one to take 
his place. The other place was in newspaper work. There 
were two papers in Sumner and the oldest and most influential 
was owned and edited by a man up in years and he wished to 
retire as he was quite well off financially. (Something that 
don’t happen to many newspaper men.) This plant could be 
purchased at a fairly reasonable price. 

Col. Sanford thought that one or the other of the positions 
might appeal to Frank. If he did not want the job in the 
bank and had rather take on the newspaper, it was up to 
Frank. Col. Sanford did not think Frank had any money to put 
into the plant but the Colonel was willing to buy the plant and 
make Frank and Belle a wedding present of the same. 

Frank ad Belle had been at home several days when he and 
his father-in-law happened to be alone out upon the veranda. 
In fact, the women people were privy to this meeting, as it had 
been prearranged among the three. 

Col. Sanford said to Frank, “I hope you won’t think me in¬ 
quisitive or trying to pry into your business, but I would like to 
ask you a question, and I don’t want you to take any offense, 
as none is intended.” 

“I am ready for any question you may ask me and I will 
answer truthfully,” replied Frank. 

“T would like to know what your future plans are,” said 
the Colonel. 

“I expect to go back to Hopewell and take my old job 
back,” answered Frank. 

“I would like to suggest a plan,” replied the father-in-law. 

109 


He then unfolded the two propositions the reader knows 
about. Frank told him “he knew nothing about the banking 
business and he was afraid he might make a mess of it. The 
newspaper business appealed to him, but he did not have the 
necessary capital.” 

“If you had the capital, would you be willing to go into it?” 
said Sanford. 

“Yes,” replied Frank. “The newspaper business always 
appealed to me, and many a time have I wish I had the money 
to buy out a plant or start a new one.” 

“Well, consider the matter settled. I will furnish the 
money and will buy out the local paper—The Chronicle—at 
once,” replied Sanford. 

Frank commenced to offer some objections about his spend¬ 
ing his money on an uncertain quantity, as he, Sanford, did not 
have any means of knowing whether he would make a success 
of it or not. 

Col. Sanford told him, “that the matter was now closed as 
far as Frank was concerned and that he need have no worry 
as to his making a success of it, and that he had found out 
what the paper could be bought for, and in fact, he had a ten 
days’ option on it. So the matter was settled without farther 
argument. The Colonel bought the paper the next day and 
was to have possession of the same the first of the coming 
month, which was about twenty days. This gave the proprie¬ 
tor a chance to get his business in shape and it also gave Frank 
a chance to get onto the running of the plant. 

Frank left the next day* for Hopewell to resign his position 
there and to fix up all of his personal matters. 

Col. DuPont was a little loth about accepting Frank’s resig- 
natio, letting on that it was a complete surprise to him, but 
with Frank’s explanation, his resignation was accepted. But 
Col. DuPont asked him, if they got into anything that needed 
his advice, if he would consent to come up and help them out. 
Frank agreed to do so. 

A few days after his return from Hopewell, Mr. and Mrs. 
Sanford and he and Belle rode around the city, looking at the 
fine homes and admiring them, when finally coming to the 

110 


home Mrs. Sanford had bought for them, Mr. Sanford pur¬ 
posely drove slowly and gave Frank a chance to take in the 
beauty of this elegant home. “There is a place that suits me 
the best of anything in town except your home.” 

“We will stop the car, so you can see all the beauties round 
about the house. Those old stately trees, the beautiful shaven 
lawn, those fragrant roses and that clinging ivy. Let us get 
out and go in and see the house on the inside. The people 
who own it are friends of mine and they will not think any¬ 
thing out of the way our coming in, in fact, they will be glad 
to see you both, said Col. Sanford, with a sly wink at Belle 
and her mother. 

As they walked up the stone flag walk, Frank was all en¬ 
thusiasm over his surroundings. And as they stepped upon 
the wide veranda with all kinds of easy porch furniture, his 
eyes were as bright as dollars. 

Col. Sanford rang the door bell and a female maid answer¬ 
ed it. 

She invited them in. The Colonel asked if the people were 
at home and the maid said, “no.” 

“Have you any objections of showing us over the house?” 
said Mrs. Sanford. 

“Not in the least,” answered the maid with a merry twinkle 
in her eye. 

They inspected the house from cellar to garret and every¬ 
thing had a freshness about it that made it entrancing and still 
Frank never had the least bit of suspicion that he was being 
played with. 

Frank said, “it was the most ideal home he ever saw.” At 
that juncture Mrs. Sanford stepped up to him and handed him 
a large paper. He did not know what to think of it and to 
satisfy himself he opened it and he found that it was a deed 
and that of that same home and it was made out to him and 
Belle as a wedding present from Mrs. Sanford. Tears started 
up in Frank’s eyes, his voice was clogged but going up to Mrs. 
Sanford he caught her in his arms and kissed her so affection¬ 
ately that she was moved to tears All he could say was 
“thank you my dear mother.” Then going up to the Colonel 

111 


he took hold of his hand and squeezed it with a tight girp and 
placing his other hand on his shoulder, he looked him straight 
in the eye and said, “why are you so good to me?” “Surely 
there is method in your madness. And I am almost sure that 
you will never have cause to regret of your many kindnesses 
to Belle and me.” He could say no more. Tears got the best 
of him. But Belle went up to him and placing her arms about 
him, said, “cry all you want to, it is all right as long as they 
are tears of joy.” 

“We will now go back home and you and Belle get your 
personal belongings and commence tonight to keep house. No 
house is large enough for two families. You will find your 
larder well stocked up with all kinds of edibles and this house¬ 
keeper will look after the house for you, if you want her,” said 
the father-in-law. 

So we find them duly installed in their new home. 

Upon assuming the control of The Chronicle, the following 
salutatory, along on the line of a Jefferson, appeared in the 
first issue after Frank took charge. 

“We believe in equal and exact justice to all men, of what¬ 
ever state of pursuasicn, religious or political, peace, com¬ 
merce and honest frendship with all nations, entangling alli¬ 
ances with none; the support of the State governments in all 
their rights, as the most competent administration for cur do¬ 
mestic concerns and the surest bulwarks against anti-Republi- 
can tendencies; the preservation of the general government in 
its whole constitutional origin, as the sheet-anchor of our peace 
at home and safety abroad; a jealous care of the right of elec¬ 
tion by the people; a mild and safe corrective of abuses, which 
are lopped by the sword of revolution where peaceful reme¬ 
dies are unprovided; absolute acquiescence in the decisions of 
the majority, the vital principal and immediate parent of de¬ 
spotism; a well disciplined militia, our best reliance in peace 
and for the first moments of war until regulars may relieve 
them; the supremacy of the civil over the military authority; 
economy in the public expense, that labor may be lightly bur¬ 
dened; the honest payment of our debts, and sacred preserva¬ 
tion of the public faith; encouragement of agriculm.e and 


112 


commerce as its handmaid; the diffusion of information and 
arraignment of all abuses at the bar of public reason; freedom 
of religion, freedom of the press, and freedom of person, un¬ 
der the protection of the habeas corpus, and trial by juries im¬ 
partially selected.” 

We also stand for the greater uplift of our town and com¬ 
munity and are forinst all manner of shams, whatsoever. 
These principles are the creed of our political faith. 

All our news will be free from personal opinions. If we 
have any criticisms to make it will be done in our editorial de¬ 
partment. Farther, this paper is not controlled by any clique 
or clan and the man, whose name is at the mast head of the 
paper is responsible for everything in the paper.—Frank But¬ 
ler. 

After the first issue of the paper, a young attorney made 
the remark that “a Yankee had no business editing a paper in 
the South. He should go back North, where he belongs. That 
it was a Democratic country, below the Mason and Dixon line 
and the people did not want them there.” 

“You make a mistake, young man,” said a prominent judge 
“in calling Frank Butler a Yankee. He has a better right, ac¬ 
cording to your own theory, to live here than you have. You 
are from Mississippi and have only been here, about two years, 
while Frank Butler was born here and lived the first three 
years of his life here, and now has been here almost a year at 
the present time.” 

“Oh, that don’t make any difference, he was educated in 
the North,” replied the young attorney. 

“Well, I plainly see there is no use arguing with you, as you 
are wanting in good common sense,” saying this the judge 
turned on his heel and left the young attorney grumbling to 
himself. 

Things ran along smoothly and in an even tenure of their 
way for Frank in the newspaper business until election time. 
Nominations were to be made for the local city election. Bonds 
for improvements had been voted upon and carried and now 
it was a question for the voters to elect men to office, who 
would use the bonds properly and for the purpose they were 

113 


intended for. The people did not care so much about their 
taxes being raised, if they could see the uses to which they 
wyere applied. In other words they wanted an economic ad¬ 
ministration and all useless offices eliminated. A great num¬ 
ber of names were suggested to fill the different offices. The 
city had two parties, the Citizens’ and the Peoples’. Politics 
were wholly eliminated as far as city affairs were concerned. 

The most logical man for mayor was not a native son. He 
was born in another state, but still he was the best fitted man 
for the office of mayor. It was a ‘‘sweet morsel to roll under 
the tongues” of some of the old moss backs who had never 
been five miles away from home. They were so narrow mind¬ 
ed and bigoted that they could not see an inch from their nose. 

Frank came out with a strong editorial in The Chronicle, 
“advocating the nomination of this man, and he suggested that 
a man’s ability should not be limited to the narrow confines of 
being a native son, neither should his personal worth be lost 
to the city. That he was the best fitted for the place. Had 
not only business ability to make his own personal matters suc¬ 
cessful, but he was the most enterprising man in the city. And 
that if they were believers in the Bible, they should heed the 
injunction of not hiding your talents under a bushel. Our 
idea is, that we should put in our very best men at the present 
time and not be blinded by any little idiosyncracies, whatever. 
What we want is honest men in office and a go-getter and not 
a mere figure-head.” 

“He said farther: “Too many folks in the world, that are 
not honest, either by training or by nature, forget to appear 
what they are, and so go through the world appearing to be 
honest and upright, and trying to make others believe they are. 
There are lots of wolves that forget where they take off their 
clothes at night, and get up in the morning and put on the 
clothing that belongs to the sheep; and they’ll wear them all 
day. There are farmers that will haul load after load of wood 
to town and sell it for so many cords, and forget where their 
measuring stick is; and there are merchants who forget to bal¬ 
ance their scales. There are lawyers that forget that truth is 
an essential element in trying a case, and ministers that forget 

114 


that the eye of the Lord is upon them when then are stealing 
their sermons as well as the eye of the critic, when they are 
delivering them from the sacred desk. The office seeker for¬ 
gets, after his election, every promise he made before it, and 
what is worse than all else, the husband and the wife too fre¬ 
quently forget those pledges of love and faithfulness and 
sobriety. 

Of all the sad things in this world, the saddest is when 
memory between plighted mates for life is lost to the extent 
that not only is duty neglected, but affection chilled forever, 
hearts crushed and bleeding, to rise no more. The strength 
of government rests upon the strength of the homes. Every 
home is a foundation stone upon which the superstructure 
rests. If the individual homes throughout the county fall to 
ruin by forgetfulness, the government will surely follow.” 

There was considerable comment made upon this editorial 
but the consensus of opinion agreed with it. The sequel of the 
whole affair was that Frank’s man was nominated and elected 
by a big majority, notwithstanding he was not a native son. 


115 


CHAPTER XXIV 

The next event that made “the old moss-backs” sit up and 
take notice about, was something that took place at the poll¬ 
ing places in the different parts of the city and county. 

There were some over a hundred boys who had gone across 
the seas to “Make Democracy safe for the United States.” 
When the boys were inudced to enlist, they were told by these 
old slackers, that if they would enlist, there was nothing too 
good for them to have at the hands of the people. A number 
of the boys thought they meant it, while some of those who 
were wise, knew that it was just a “bluff game” they were 
working. 

All these boys sent their absentee votes home to be voted 
at the presidential election. Well, what was done? Did the 
boys’ votes go in as they indicated. We should say not. The 
different election boards, which was controlled by the Demo¬ 
crats voted over 90 per cent of them for the Democratic nomi¬ 
nee. Whereas, they had given instructions to the contrary, 
as they wanted to vote for the Republican nominee. The 
election board, simply switched them. 

When these facts were whispered around quietly at first, 
Frank decided that their action called for drastic measures and 
his paper came out with a ringing editorial denouncing this 
high-handed outrage upon the boys, who were giving up their 
lives to save the slacker thieves. He stated that any cne who 
had a hand in the affair should be sent to the penitentiary for 
a long time at hard work. Even to think that these slackens 
were at home enjoying life and making money and drawing 
big salaries from the government, while these boys were across 
the seas, taking their lives in their hands, to protect these same 
ones, and the boys were getting the princely salary of $1 per 
day. Politics is a fine art, and one that requires a good deal 

116 


of shrewdness and studying. It consists of a thorough knowl¬ 
edge of how to bamboozle the people, or, in other and more 
comprehensive language, how to pull the wool over the eyes 
of the people so they can only see the outside of you. The 
bold outlines in this art is to work all the points to insure the 
candidates election. The deep shades and dark background 
is the principal work done after he is elected.” 

This editorial created a regular furore and such a howl 
went up, never was known in Sumner. No one ever had the 
nerve to tell these election stealers where to get off and to 
make it patent to all, just what they did. 

All kinds of threats were made against Frank and an at¬ 
tempt to boycott it was made, but it signally failed. The mer¬ 
chants were threatened to be boycotted if they did not stop ad¬ 
vertising in the Chronicle. They simply gave them the ha, ha, 
and told them, they were running their own business, and that 
if they listened to any one in regard to a matter of like nature, 
they would consult parties, who did not go out of town to buy 
a pair of overalls or a pound of crackers. Why, your trade is 
no good to us any way. As far as your patronage is concern¬ 
ed, we do not know you are living in town. 

We are going to patronize a paper that is read by the peo¬ 
ple. We would be willing to bet dollars to doughnuts that 
there has not been an issue of the Chronicle that you have not 
read and still you never spent a cent for a Chronicle. You 
slip into some of the stores and steal your reading. Of how 
much value, do you think you are to the town? 

Most of us are not of the same political belief as the editor 
of the Chronicle, but we are glad he has had the temerity to 
expose you fellows in your nefarious work, you have been car¬ 
rying on at the polls ever since the war. It is just such things 
as that that has retarded the growth of the South. Not until 
Northern capital commenced to come down into this country, 
were we the least bit prosperous. The sooner that this ballot 
box fraud is stopped, the better it will be for the South. 

This action of the merchants rather put *a quietus upon 
their agitating the matter farther. But Frank was not through 
yet, on the matter of fraudulent elections. 

117 


One part of the county was strongly Republican and in two 
precincts in this district over three hundred Republicans were 
kept from voting by the dilatory tactics of the Democratic 
judges and in one of the precincts, they refused to count out 
the ballots, until they heard from the rest of the county, find¬ 
ing that the rest of the county had turned in a Republican ma¬ 
jority, the Democratic judges allowed the vote to be counted. 

The Chronicle editorial was a scorcher on this proceeding 
and the matter was referred to the U. S. district attorney and 
he simply passed the matter up, but the Republicans here were 
not satisfied and they took it before congress in the shape of a 
contest for congressman. But the Republicans had such an 
enormous majority in the house that they passed it up. 

These are the things that makes the Solid South. 

The editorial wound up with the following: “Men, who 
are guilty of stealing a vote or doing crooked work to get votes 
and manipulate shady measures to gain their point in an elec¬ 
tion, is crooked at heart and he is not worthy of any one’s con¬ 
fidence, let him be a deacon in the church and high-monkey- 
de-monk in some prominent secret order. He is not a desir¬ 
able citizen any where you place him, for he is always on the 
lookout for aggrandizement of self.” 

Another thing came to light and that was the way the 
Democratic registers worked the illiteracy test. If an illiter¬ 
ate Democrat came to list, he was registered without any ques¬ 
tions being asked, but if a Republican offered to register, who 
could not read or write, he was refused registration. A num¬ 
ber of elderly people, who had sons in the war and protected 
the bacon of these same slacker registers, who had been vot¬ 
ing under the “grandfather” clause were refused registration, 
because they happened to be Republicans. 1 

In an editorial the Chronicle said: “That the registers were 
sworn to live up to the law and, it was their understanding that 
there should not be any difference made no matter which 
ticket a person voted. And that any registrar who did make 
a difference and it could be proven against him, he ought to be 
sent to the penitentiary and the right of franchise taken from 
him.” 


118 


The howl that "went up on account of this editorial could 
be heard all over the wilds of South Carolina. Some hot¬ 
heads suggested that they mob the Yankee editor and others 
were in for tearing down his plant and some wanted to take 
him out and tar and feather him. Frank was not frightened 
the least bit over these mumblings and kept right along giving 
them a paper that about all could hardly wait for the next 
paper to be printed, so eager were they to see what he had to 
say. 

In the meantime the advertising kept rolling into the 
Chronicle office, not only locally but an immense amount of 
advertising from Columbia and other nearby cities as the pa¬ 
per was getting up such a reputation that it was not just con¬ 
fined to local readers. Foreign advertising agents kept get¬ 
ting orders to place the advertising of a great many prominent 
firms in the Chronicle. Business got so good that another 
typesetting machine was ordered and he bought his news print 
by the car load. 

Some of Frank’s friends asked him, if he were not afraid 
the Ku Klux would get after him, but he smiled and said, he 
thought not. 

The county went Republican at the election and the Demo¬ 
cratic legislature made a special case of that county’s sheriff 
and passed a law placing him on a salary. 

All of these things noted were done by native sons in order 
to “Make Democracy Safe.” 

The other city paper made a very scathing editorial upon 
Frank for these utterances and in it he said: “Our young Yan¬ 
kee friend had better go back North where he belongs, this is 
a Democratic state and we are going to see to it that it stays 
Democratic. We have no use for such renegades as he is and 
the sooner he folds his tent and skips the gutter, the better it 
will be for him. No one asked him to come down here and 
try to instruct us how to conduct matters. We were able to 
run our affairs before he came down here and we think we can 
do so now without any of his assistance.” 

Frank came back at him as follows, “Our worthy and gen¬ 
tlemanly competitor undoubtedly feels somewhat peeved over 

119 


one of our editorials and comes back at us in a personal way. 
Now we always hate to be personal but the venerable dame 
seizes her ligumvitae mop stick and comes back at us with a 
front page editorial that smells of sulphur and vitrol and siz¬ 
zles like a million volts of double distilled electricity toying 
with a street car mule. The old lady out Jezebels Jezelbel. 
She overdoes Termagant. She makes Xantippe appear like a 
soft-voiced country maiden cooing at her first mash. 

A grandma of Sumner journalism lets down her back 
hair and strips for a finished fight. She’s more awful in her 
anger than Macbeth brought to bay. Ajax defying the light¬ 
ning sinks into significance. The indignation of the Earl of 
Essex when slapped by the Virgin Queen, the fine scorn of 
O’Connell when kangarooed by an adverse court were as pink 
lemonade to prohibition poison compared with the Old Dame’s 
defiance unto death. She intends to drink hot blood, to make 
an awful example of us. But ere she does anything else, we 
would like to ask her how she ever fixed up about her steal¬ 
ing that mule down in Mississippi. When she does this we 
will be ready for her to make a start. However, for her edifi¬ 
cation, we will state that we are a native son of Sumner and 
that she is an outlawed Mississippian, and that she skipped the 
country and came here to keep from going to jail. If she de¬ 
sires any more information about herself to be given to the 
public, all she has to do is to indicate the same. However, we 
think, this will hold her for a while.” 

The edition of the Chronicle was grabbed up like hot cakes 
and the fury of the editor of the other paper was fierce and 
he was writhing in torment and torture. 

Some of his special friends advised him to go gunning for 
him. “Not me, he is younger than I am and he is reported 
to be an expert with a gun.” 

“Then, why don’t you sue him for libel?” 

“Well, sirs, I might do that but I do not care to sar up old 
sores.” 

“Then, you must have stolen the mule and skipped the 
country. We are through with you if you have such a streak 
of yellow about you and are forced to believe that what the 


120 


Yankee editor says about you is true. You had better prim¬ 
ed your powder before you shot. We all have come to the 
conclusion that the young man is telling the truth about things 
being done around here. In fact we know they are, but we 
imagined that you were heavy enough to hold his nose to the 
grindstone, but we now see our mistake. Good day.” 

He was the laughing stock of the whole city and he made 
it a point to stay out of sight as much as possible until things 
resumed their normal condition. But, he was very much non¬ 
plussed at the way his business commenced to fall off and that 
of his competitor increase. 

No answer was made to Frank’s editorial. In the next 
week’s Chronicle, Frank had an editorial, as a ‘rubber in,” in 
which he made the statement, “that all the blockaders and 
bootleggers in the town of Sumner and the county, were native 
sons, and he dared his competitor to deny the same.” 

Still no answer was forthcoming. It was very evident that 
‘Grandma’ had had a sufficiency. 

An event transpired that gave Frank another opportunity 
to rub it in on the native son theory. 

An army officer left Raleigh for Columbia, S. C. He pick¬ 
ed up a couple of men who were afoot and they asked him for 
l ride, they told him they were going to Columbia. They 
were both former soldiers. 

When they got into South Carolina they shot him to death 
and threw his body in a swamp and the birds picked his body 
clean of all flesh within two weeks. They took his car and all 
his belongings. In about ten days one of them was caught 
wiih some of the Major’s clothing. When given the third de¬ 
gree, he confessed, implicating another man, who was arrested 
later on in a neighboring state. They were both native sons. 

This squelched all argument on the native son theory and 
all were of the same opinion as Shakespeare, ‘A man’s a man 
:or ah that, and ah that.’ 


CHAPTER XXVI 

The Chronicle was enjoying a great amount of prosperity. 
Its circulation was gradually climbing with a good steady in¬ 
crease and the reason of it was on account of its breezy write 
ups on the different events. 

We will reproduce one of them which may cause our read¬ 
ers to see the humor about it. 

It appears that a society bud in a neighboring town sued a 
young man for kissing her. The jury, all old bachelors, who 
had been deprived all their lives of kisses, were naturally op¬ 
posed to other men having luxuries that they did not. So 
they brought in a verdict of $5,000 for just one kiss. 

The Chronicle had this to say about it. 

“Just think of it a jury has brought in a verdict against a 
jay in our neighboring town for $5,000 for ‘kissing a woman 
against her will/ Here’s a pretty kettle of fish. When ask¬ 
ed to osculate, a woman invariably declines. She resists pres¬ 
sure and says, ‘Please don’t’—even threatens to scream. How 
is a fellow to know whether she means it or not, or is merely 
making a grandstand play? Not every man is a mind reader. 
A fellow hates to overlook a bet, and be voted a variegated 
chump by a pretty woman who has had her mouth puckered 
for him an week; yet if he swoops down upon the sweetness 
like a drunken bumble bee rifling a red holly hock, his pleas¬ 
ure is marred by visions of damage suits and public ridicule. 
That must give us pause and leave half the kiss crop of the 
country to go ungathered. Five thousand dollars for one kiss 
—when the miserable usurer had oodles of ’em in stock, which 
she was wasting on other women and colicky kids. It doesn’t 
look right. Five thousand—and we don’t know whether he 
placed it where it would do the most good, lost it among her 
ear muffs, as is the custom of big brothers, or slid down the 


122 


back of her neck, a la the heroes of the stage. It is not even 
stated whether he snatched it on the fly, like a man reaching 
for a railroad lunch, or took half an hour to let the sweetness 
soak in. We have not read the evidence submitted to the 
court, and know not upon what the plaintiff based her plea for 
damages—whether it was the kiss per se or the manner in 
which the goods were delivered that constituted the casus belli. 
We rather expect, however, that the defendant wore a mus¬ 
tache through which he had been straining moonshine and 
mock-turtle soup; that he grabbed the plaintiff like a boy at a 
country fair seizing the greased pig, mussed her hair, derang¬ 
ed her ribbons and crumpled her dress, only to leave on her 
larboard cheek a red spot smelling of plug tobacca, brilliantine 
and booze. Under such circumstances a woman should be 
awarded a million dollars damages and instructed to collect 
it with a shot gun. 

“But this verdict is a dangerous precedent, no doubt; still, 
the man who knows how to kiss a pretty woman will seldom 
get into court. Due preparation should be made for the sa¬ 
cred rite by carefully calsomining the teeth, sand-papering the 
chin and disinfecting the breath. ‘Then catch your hare/ 
Lead her out into the dewy garden about 11 P. M. and watch 
until the moon slides behind a cloud. Then slip one arm about 
her taper waist and draw her gently but firmly to your manly 
brisket. Of course she will murmur ‘Don’t / but never mind. 
Tilt her chin at an angle of forty-five degrees—not suddenly, 
as though you were trying to crack her neck, but adroitly, im¬ 
perceptibly. Don’t be in a hurry. Give her time to wonder 
what’s going to happen next. Be sure the bull dog is tied and 
the old man comfortably settled for the night. A fellow’s 
neives must be in good condition to really enjoy a kiss. Now’s 
your time. Don’t peck at the persimmon like a shanghi 
chicken picking corn, but settle down upon her lips like a car¬ 
rier pigeon coming home to roost. Don’t be in a hurry. She 
wants to call you a ‘naughty man’ and threaten to ‘tell ma;’ 
but don’t give her a chance. She’ll forget it if you only keep 
her mou:h engaged until the moon peeps out from behind the 
L,cud. Of ccuise she’ll tell you that you are the first man that 

123 


ever kissed her,—but you ain’t. She’ll protest she’s real an¬ 
gry, but she’ll not sue you for damages. She’ll be too busy 
looking for another cloud to even think about the courts.” 

But what did the Governor of South Carolina say to the 
Governor of North Carolina? “It is a long time between 
drinks.” 

It is a little different here. But there is a wide divergency 
upon our topics. 

In an editorial in The Chronicle, the following appeared. 

It is generally conceded that local newspapers, especially 
stand for the general uplift of their community, and should 
work hand in hand with the ministers of the Gospel and the 
superintendent and teachers in the schools. In most towns 
this is the case, but here in Sumner none of these mentioned 
even had had the courtesy to even call at The Chronicle office, 
much less to give the paper any news concerning the churches 
or the schools. 

Why, they would not even give the paper when asked, 
their schedule of weekly services. Frank could not explain 
to himself satisfactorily, only on the ground of the native 
son theory. 

About all the ministers in that vicinity were native sons and 
of course were of the prevailing political belief. And they ap¬ 
peared to think that no zone outside their political belief would 
go to Heaven. If they happened to get in by some hook or 
crook, they would be a minority party. However, Frank be¬ 
lieved that a man who treated his fellowmen with proper re¬ 
spect, paying his honest debts, treating his family alright, did 
not drink booze, did not gamble, did not run after strange 
Gods, was not a he-flapper, was just as good, if not better than 
a church member, who was guilty of all the crimes in the de¬ 
calogue and he did not hesitate to say so with emphasis. In 
fact, he had no use for a hypocrite, one who attends church in 
ihe forenoon on Sunday and sits in the amen corner and in the 
afternoon goes out motoring and speeding, and the other six 
c ays of the week, trying to skin his neighbor by subterfuge in 
:..s deals. 

Of course his editorial got a “rise” out of seme whem it hi: 


124 


in the “solar-plexus/’ and they were very much riled up over 
it and they made threats what they were going to do, but it 
all went off as gentle as a mild June breeze. 

Several very threatening letters were sent to him through 
the local post office and Frank had every reason to suppose 
that the postmaster, who was a hold over and was holding on 
by reason of the civil service rules, although strong efforts had 
been made by the anti-machine people to get him removed but 
to no avail, was possibly indirectly a party to these letters. So 
he made up his mind to notify the department at Washington 
and see if something might be done to catch the underhand, 
sneaking, murderous miscreant. 

He had been putting off writing to the department for 
some little time, but going to the office for his mail, he found 
another of those letters, which was more threatening than the 
others and it wound up by saying if nothing was heard from it 
within a week, he would get another which would be self con¬ 
vincing that he do something and that within twenty-four 
hours after receiving it. 

This settled it. He telegraphed to the department to send 
a man, who was an expert in detecting irregularities and at 
once. 

As soon as a man could get in from the nearest point to 
Sumner, he made his appearance and called at The Chronicle 
office and made himself known to Frank. 

The matter was gone over thoroughly and all the letters 
examined closely and they were all in the same hand writing, 
but evidently disguised as they were in back hand. 

The inspector suggested to Frank that he go over to the 
other paper and pretend to be a circulation promoter, so as to 
allay any suspicion of his calling at The Chronicle office. 

The inspector made it a point to be around the post office 
about mailing time and to see if he might catch on. He asked 
Frank if he suspicioned any one and he was told that there 
were three men whom he suspected. These men were point¬ 
ed out to the inspector so he could watch their operations. 

He was there for several days and nothing suspicious had 
c ccurred until the day before the week was up for the last let- 

125 


ter to be sent. ■ 

As the inspector went into the postoffice he saw one of the 
three men whom he was watching, standing on the corner 
above the postoffice. He saw him motion to a little negro boy 
to come to him. He saw him give him something. The in¬ 
spector hastened into the office and awaited for the negro boy 
to come in as he suspected he had a letter from the man to 
mail. His suspicions were well founded. The inspector stood 
near the place where the letters were dropped and the negro 
boy did not know just where to drop it. So the inspector see¬ 
ing his predicament, called him up to him and said: “I will 
mail your letter for you.” The boy gave him the letter and 
he glanced at it and saw that it was one of the letters he was 
trying to trace. 

He then went out of the office and watched proceedings. 

He slowly wended his way within hearing distance and he 
heard the man ask the negro if he mailed it and he told him 
he did. He gave him a piece of money and the boy started 
down the street with the inspector keeping him in sight. As 
he turned the corner, he caught up with him and stopping him, 
told him he wanted him to do an errand and at the same time 
gave him a quarter. 

He sent him over to The Chronicle office with a note to 
Frank, to hold the negro boy there until he came over. 

He soon made it convenient to get over to The Chronicle 
office and tell Frank what had happened. >v 

“Now, you go to the office at once and get your mail and if 
the letter is not in your box, tell the postmaster that there is 
one in the undelivered box, and that you would like to have it 
at once. If he is unwilling to accommodate you, I will follow 
right along after and we will see that he does give it to you, 
and insist upon his canceling the stamp ere he gives it to you.” 

Frank followed instructions and the postmaster refused to 
give him the letter and told him he would have to wait until 
the next mail was distributed. The inspector overheard the 
conversation and he rapped upon the door of the office where 
the postmaster and Frank were. The former opened the door 
and the inspector stepped inside. “People generally have to 

126 


have an invitation ere they intrude into an office^ said the 
postmaster. 

“What’s your business?” 

“I aiih an interested party in that letter Mr. Butler wants,” 
remarked the inspector. - ttV . 

“Well, sir, you will have to wait my pleasure,answered 
the postmaster. 

“Then, you refuse to produce the letter?” snapped the in¬ 
spector. 

“Yes, sir, I do. “And I order you out of this office at once,” 
replied the postmaster hotly. 

Turning the lapel of his coat over, the inspector displayed 
a badge that indicated his authority. 

“Do you think that will cause you to change your mind 
about producing that letter and that instanter?” asked the in¬ 
spector. 

“Why, did you not tell me who you were when you came 
in?” whined the postmaster. 

“I wanted to see how you treated your customers, who 
were not your regular buddies,” answered the inspector. 

The postmaster got the letter and handed to the inspector. 
“You will have to cancel the stamp, as we want proof that it 
went through the mails,” said the inspector. 

“You will please keep this matter ‘sub-rosa,’ if you value 
your position, and I will see you later,” remarked the inspector 
and he and Frank left the office. 

They went to The Chronicle office and opened the letter 
and found it far more threatening than the others. They im¬ 
mediately went before the U. S. Commissioner and swore out 
a warrant for the sender, who was one of the most prominent 
machine politicians in town and also a very wealthy man. 

The warrant was given to the sheriff and Mr. Politician 
was in the toils of Uncle Sam before he knew it. He was plac¬ 
ed under a $10,000 bond to appear at the next federal court. 

The inspector telegraphed the department in cipher, ask¬ 
ing what to do about the postmaster. Orders were at once 
telegraphed to relieve him of his duties at once and have a re- 
p'liable man, who was an administration man appointed tern- 

127 


porarily in his place and until the man was appointed t, e in¬ 
spector was to have charge of the office. 

This last move of Frank’s put the quietus upon practically 
all opposition. The man was tried and given ten years in the 
federal prison at Atlanta. 

Shortly after this, Frank got word from the Comrr re 
that Mamie Simmons had been killed in France, when os- 
pital had been shelled. 

The Chronicle enjoyed great prosperity and ver^ eld in 
was native son mentioned any more, and surely Fr k h. d 
lost his identity as a native son. 

We will now leave him to enjoy himself with his fan y 
and in a community where about every one fully appreciated 
the fact that he was a true man in every respect. 

— THE END — 



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